Accident Sequence
On 18 September 2001, a Cessna 310 registered ZS-EVK departed from Grand Central Airport for Ellisras with the pilot and one passenger aboard. Shortly after selecting the undercarriage to the up position, the pilot heard a loud bang. Attempts to lower the undercarriage using both the normal and manual extension systems resulted in the nose undercarriage failing to extend and lock down properly.
During a fly-past, the tower visually confirmed that the nose undercarriage was not fully extended. The aircraft then landed, and the nose undercarriage collapsed during the landing roll.
Investigation
Metallurgical tests conducted on the bell-crank from the undercarriage retraction system revealed that it had fractured as a result of a single overload condition. No signs of fatigue or any pre-existing defect that could have initiated the fracture were noted.
Probable Cause
The accident report states: "It appears that the nose undercarriage idler bell-crank fractured after take-off due to the fact that the nose undercarriage was previously subjected to an abnormal landing and/or with the nose undercarriage not fully in the down and locked position."