Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ATL00LA010

JACKSONVILLE, FL, USA

Aircraft #1

N310GC

Cessna 310Q

Analysis

The pilot had completed a local personal flight and was on taxiway 'C,' and was returning to the parking ramp, when without warning the left main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane and the landing gear assembly showed that the left main landing gear down-lock end fitting assembly and the retention bolt had broken. The landing gear examination of the locking linkage failed to establish installation specification prior to the accident. A visual examination of the failed bolt assembly also failed to disclose pre-existing cracking in the bolt structure. A review of the maintenance logbooks revealed that recent maintenance had been performed on the landing gear assembly 18 hours before the accident.

Factual Information

On November 10, 1999, at 1730 eastern standard time, a Cessna 310Q, N310GC, collided with the taxiway after the landing gear down-lock bolt failed at Craig Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot was not injured. The flight departed Jacksonville, Florida, at 1635. The pilot had completed a local personal flight and was on taxiway "C," returning to the parking ramp, when without warning the left main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane and the landing gear assembly showed that the left main landing gear down-lock end fitting assembly and the retention bolt had broken. The landing gear examination of the locking linkage failed to establish installation specification prior to the accident. A visual examination of the failed bolt assembly also failed to disclose pre-existing cracking in the bolt structure. A review of the maintenance logbooks revealed that recent maintenance had been performed on the landing gear assembly 18 hours before the accident.

Probable Cause and Findings

The failure of the left main landing gear down locking mechanism for undetermined reasons.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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