Cessna 310G Landing Gear Collapse at Nelspruit Airport (ZS-LTL)

Incident Overview and Flight Details On 10 March 2000 at 1713Z, a Cessna 310G with registration ZS-LTL was involved in an accident at Nelspruit Airport. The aircraft was operating an international flight from Nelspruit to Chibuto, Mozambique, with one person on board. The pilot-in-command held a private licence and had 253.6 total flying hours, including 116.4 hours on type. ## Operational Sequence The pilot departed Nelspruit Airport for Chibuto but returned due to deteriorating weather conditions. Shortly after landing at Nelspruit, the right-hand main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right-hand propeller, right-hand main landing gear doors, and some buckling of the tail plane. No injuries or fatalities were reported. ## Maintenance and Probable Cause The pilot stated that the linkage bushes on the right-hand main landing gear were manufactured too short during the final MPI, causing the joint to be compressed when the bolt was tightened. This made the undercarriage stiff and unable to free fall into position. Consequently, the right-hand gear extended but did not lock into the over-centre position and eventually collapsed.