ATX SMT GEAR COLLAPSED DURING CROSSWIND LNDG.

Narrative

AFTER EXECUTING A NORMAL LNDG ON RNY 13L AT KDAL IN TO A XWIND REPORTED AS 180 DEG 18 KNOTS GUSTING 25; I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CTL; DUE TO WEATHER COCKING INTO THE WIND WITH FULL CTL DEFLECTION. AS SIDE LOADING INCREASED THE L MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. FULL DOWN AND LOCKED GEAR INDICATORS WERE OBSERVED PRIOR TO LNDG. TOUCHDOWN WAS NOMINAL USING THE UPWIND WING LOW OR SIDESLIP TECHNIQUE. SEVERE GUSTING WAS OBSERVED DURING TOUCHDOWN AND ROLLOUT NECESSITATING MINIMUM XWIND TECHNIQUE. AT ONE POINT DURING THE WEATHERCOCKING EVENT I DEBATED MAKING A GO AROUND AND ELECTED TO REMAIN ON THE GND RATHER THAN RISK MORE SEVERE DAMAGE DUE TO FAILURE OF A BALKED LNDG ATTEMPT. IN RETROSPECT I REALIZED SEVERAL DECISIONS THAT MIGHT POSSIBLY HAVE PREVENTED THE INCIDENT. BY REQUESTING LANDING ON RWY 18. AS WELL; UTILIZING DIFFERENTIAL POWER(I.E. INCREASED POWER ON THE UPWIND ENGINE) DURING ROLLOUT MAY HAVE MITIGATED THE WEATHER COCKING; REDUCING GEAR SIDELOAD. AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT IT IS UNKNOWN WHETHER MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS A FACTOR IN THE GEAR COLLAPSE.