LNDG GEAR FAILED ON LNDG.

Narrative

THE FLT WAS SCHEDULED FROM MSP TO SDF. EVERYTHING WAS UNEVENTFUL AND NORMAL UP TO THE LNDG. UPON TOUCHDOWN; THE R MAIN LNDG GEAR FAILED/COLLAPSED WHEN THE SPOILERS EXTENDED; CAUSING THE ACFT TO SKID TO A STOP ON THE #3 AND #4 ENGS. THE #3 AND #4 ENG FIRE LIGHTS CAME ON DURING OUR DECELERATION AND THE FIRE HANDLES WERE PULLED PER THE CAPT'S INSTRUCTIONS. AS WE CAME TO A STOP; SEVERE SMOKE BEGAN TO SURROUND THE ACFT. WE PERFORMED AN EMER EVAC VIA THE ESCAPE SLIDE. ALL GEAR INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE ACFT WAS A DC8- 71. THE CAUSE OF THE GEAR COLLAPSE HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED BUT OTHER THAN SOME KIND OF METAL FATIGUE THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OR LOCATION OR HOW LONG THIS DETERIORATION EXISTED HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE LNDG THE FO MADE WAS PARTICULARLY SOFT AND THE SPOILERS DEPLOYING PROMPTED THE GEAR TO COLLAPSE. THE CAPT TOOK OVER ON THE SUBSEQUENT SLIDE AND DID A GREAT JOB KEEPING THE AIRPLANE ON THE RWY. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY THE FIRE PROCS ON THE CREW AND THE RESPONDING FIRE DEPT BEFORE ANY SIGNIFICANT FIRE DAMAGE OCCURRED AND THE AIRPLANE IS BACK FLYING NOW. THERE IS NOTHING THEY WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY. THE EVENT MADE THE CREW FERVENT ADVOCATES OF THE ESCAPE SLIDE. SOME CARGO DC8 ACFT ARE EQUIPPED WITH ROPES AND NO SLIDE. THE SLIDE THE CREW FEELS SAVED THEM FROM ANY INJURY AND THEY FEEL IF ANY POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE TO COME FROM THIS INCIDENT IT WOULD BE TO HAVE ALL CARGO CONFIGNS REQUIRE ESCAPE SLIDES BE INSTALLED.