Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 310Q near St. George, UT — 2015-03-21

Final reportWPR15LA129
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Date
2015-03-21
Location
St. George, UT, USA
Airport
SGU
Aircraft
CESSNA 310Q
Registration
N7770Q
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

Failure of the left main landing gear lower adjusting bolt due to overstress, which resulted in the left main landing gear collapse during landing.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot reported that he completed three takeoffs and landings before departing the area to practice in-flight maneuvers, after which he reentered the traffic pattern for landing. With normal landing gear indications in the cockpit, the pilot landed the airplane normally and uneventfully. During the landing roll, the left wing lowered more than normal, and the engine propellers and left wingtip impacted the runway surface; subsequently, the airplane slid to the left and exited the runway surface. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron. Postaccident examination revealed that the lower adjusting bolt on the left main landing gear was fracture separated. Both fracture surfaces exhibited fractographic features consistent with overstress fracture due to tensile and cantilever bending loads applied to the tie-rod end fitting. No indications of preexisting cracking were observed. The airplane's last annual inspection was completed on the day of the accident, during which the left and right main landing gear side brace bolts and bushings were replaced and a gear retraction test was satisfactory. According to the manufacturer, the area where the fracture occurred is where a mechanic would place a spring scale to measure the down lock force. This area is one of two main fracture locations when the down lock is improperly adjusted. The investigation could not determine if the bolt fractured as a result of overstress from the landing sequence, an improper adjustment of the bolt, or a combination of the two.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Proper adjustment of the left main landing gear down lock could have prevented the failure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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