What happened
On 25 June 1999, a PA23-250, registered as ZS-JXL, was involved in a ground incident at Port Alfred Aerodrome. The aircraft had recently undergone significant maintenance, including a top overhaul of the engines, a new paint application, and the completion of a Mandatory Periodic Inspection (MPI). Following the inspection, the pilot flew the aircraft from Fort Beaufort to Port Alfred to deliver it to the Aviation Maintenance Engineer (AME).
After arriving at Port Alfred, the pilot prepared for the return flight to Fort Beaufort. While taxiing toward the runway holding point, the left main landing gear suddenly collapsed. The aircraft was moving at a very low speed on a dry taxiway at the time of the incident and remained on the taxiway throughout the event. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the gear failure and the aircraft's recent maintenance history. The pilot confirmed that the gear selector lever had not been manipulated while the aircraft was stationary on the ground at Port Alfred. Furthermore, the investigation established that no landing gear unsafe warning or cockpit indications of gear instability occurred prior to the collapse.
Findings
Technical examination of the aircraft revealed that the left main landing gear drag-link bolt was broken, which directly led to the structural failure of the gear assembly. The collapse resulted in minor damage to the left main undercarriage, the left propeller, and the rear portion of the left engine nacelle.