ANCHORAGE, AK, USA
N200VF
PIPER PA-31-350
DURING TAKEOFF AT KODIAK, AK, THE WHEEL & LOWER SHAFT OF THE LEFT STRUT ASSY SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. THE PLT STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS RETRACTING THE GEAR, HE FELT A BUMP & GOT AN UNSAFE GEAR LIGHT. HE IMMEDITAELY EXTENDED THE GEAR & FLEW BY THE TOWER & WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEFT GEAR APPEARED TO BE MISSING. THE PLT THEN FLEW TO ANCHORAGE WHERE HE COULD LAND ON A FOAMED RWY. HE WAS UNABLE TO RETRACT THE GEAR. BEFORE LANDING, HE SHUT DOWN & SECURED THE LEFT ENG. THE LEFT WING RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE DURING THE LANDING. AN EXAM OF THE TOP MAIN GEAR BEARING REVEALED THAT 2 OF 4 RETAINING PINS, PN 01821-06, WERE MISSING & THE OTHER 2 WERE SHEARED OFF. AN EXAM OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR RETAINING PINS REVEALED THAT 2 HAD CRACKS IN THE NECK REGION. EARLIER ON THE SAME DAY OF THE INCIDENT, THE ACFT HAD AN UNSAFE GEAR INDICATION. MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL HAD INSPECTED, REMOVED, CLEANED, GREASED & REINSTALLED ALL ACTUATING RODS & HAD ADJUSTED THE LEFT GEAR UPLOCK. THE ACFT WAS THEN RELEASED FOR A TEST FLT, ON WHICH, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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