A TWIN ENGINED PVT PLT LOSES A WHEEL AND STRUT ON TKOF FROM MSFE AND DIVERTS FOR A LNDG AT MMPC; FO.

Date: 2000-05 · Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear · Phase: landing

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|conflict-ground-conflict|critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-maintenance|ground-event-encounter-loss-of-aircraft-control|ground-excursion-runway

Synopsis

A TWIN ENGINED PVT PLT LOSES A WHEEL AND STRUT ON TKOF FROM MSFE AND DIVERTS FOR A LNDG AT MMPC; FO.

Narrative

ANNUAL COMPLETED THE MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT. REOCCURRING GEAR PROB RESULTED IN ANNUAL TAKING ONE MORE DAY TO DETERMINE AND FIX GEAR; COMPLETED; DEPARTED KLGB; LANDED MSFE. DEPARTED MSFE; GEAR UP FAILURE. RECYCLED 3 GREEN; UP FAILURE. CIRCLE TWR FOR VISUAL; CYCLE GEAR CONFIRMED GEAR R MAIN WHEEL STRUT WOULD NOT RETRACT; DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. HYD PRESSURE LIGHT ON; GEAR UNSAFE LIGHT ON; RECYCLE THIRD TIME; 3 GREEN DOWN; FAILURE UP. DECIDED TO PROCEED TO MMPC ALTHOUGH REMOTE (GOOD AND BAD) RWY IS DIRT; MORE FORGIVING IN CASE GEAR FAILS. MMPC; 20 KTS HEADWIND; 3 GREEN ON GEAR DOWN; TOUCH L MAIN AT 80 KTS TAS. BLUE LINE INDICATED IAS. SETTLE TO R MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. STRONG PULL TO R APPLIED L AILERON BACK PRESSURE LIGHT L BRAKE (THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE). SLOWER CREATED SEVERE PULL TO R 60 DEGS R OF CTRLINE; APPLIED L AILERON/BRAKE/BACK PRESSURE HARD AS I COULD. PLANE AS HEADED FOR 90 DEGS R TURN AND POSSIBLE ROLL. AFTER ABOVE ACTION ACFT CORRECTED TO 20 DEGS R OF CTRLINE AND R LEADING EDGE STRUCK WOOD POSTS FROM FENCE PARALLEL OF RWY. AS ACFT SLOWED TO APPROX 20 KTS; ACFT'S R STRUT DUG INTO SOFT DIRT AND SPUN ACFT R 90 DEGS STOPPING 10 FT OFF RWY. AFTER TURNING ALL FUEL; ELECTRICAL; ETC; OFF; EXITED ACFT WITHIN SECONDS. INSPECTED ACFT DETERMINED FUEL LEAK ON R MAIN; USED STICK TO RTE FUEL STREAM AWAY FROM EXHAUST AND MOTOR. ALSO DETERMINED R TIRE WAS NOT FLAT (NEW TIRE); BUT STRUT WAS GONE (LATER FOUND AT TOUCH DOWN POINT; NO DAMAGE TO STRUT?) THIS CAUSED TRAILING LINK TO BUCKLE UNDER AND LNDG WAS ACTUALLY DONE ON 2 WHEELS AND THE KNUCKLE OF THE R MAIN TRAILING LEAK. FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND PICTURE PROGNOSIS IS R GEAR STRUT ASSEMBLY WAS EITHER NOT ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY (MISS 'O' RING) OR PART WAS DEFECTIVE. LNDG WAS SLOW; SOFT AND SMOOTH. R WHEEL COLLAPSED AT IMPACT. SUSPECT TKOF FROM MSFE CAUSE STRUT TO EXTEND TOO FAR AND PAST THE STRUT HOUSING MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE GEAR TO RETRACT BACK INTO THE HOUSING; ROTATE INTO THE WHEELWELL AND CLOSE THE DOOR. NEVER EXPECTED JUST AFTER ANNUAL AND COMPLETE GEAR CONCERNS I WOULD HAVE A STRUT PROB. ACTUALLY THOUGHT WITH 3 GREEN I WOULD PROCEED ON MY TRIP WITH GEAR EXTENDED AS A FIXED GEAR ACFT. NEVER THOUGHT I LOST MY R MAIN WHEEL AFTER TKOF FROM MSFE. MMPC ALTHOUGH REMOTE AND INCONVENIENT; I FEEL WAS MY BEST OPTION IN CASE OF THE WORST. WALKING AWAY FROM THIS EVENT UNHURT WAS A BLESSING. 20 KTS HEADWIND; SOFT FIELD AND NO BUILDINGS/ACFT AROUND CREATED THE BEST ENVIRONMENT TO LAND ON 2 WHEELS. LEARNED (3) GREENS WILL NOT GUARANTEE YOU HAVE THE WHEELS. JUST 3 STRUT HOUSINGS.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.