Opa-Locka, FL, USA
N218LG
CESSNA 402B
The airline transport pilot had landed the airplane after conducting a personal flight. He stated that, while turning left off of the active runway after landing, the airplane "began veering to the left" and that the right main landing gear (MLG) subsequently collapsed. Examination of the right MLG revealed that it had failed. Examination of the landing gear bellcrank revealed that one of the clevis knuckles on the long bellcrank arm was fractured. The fracture surface had a rough appearance and was at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the clevis arm, consistent with an overstress fracture. No other anomalies were noted with the landing gear.
On September 10, 2012, about 1650 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 402B, N218LG, landed at Opa-Locka Executive Airport (OPF), Miami, Florida, and after clearing the runway, the right main landing gear collapsed. The airline transport-rated pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained minor damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Waymen Aviation Services Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from OPF at 1600. The pilot stated that, while turning left off of the active runway after landing, the airplane "began veering to the left," and the right main landing gear subsequently collapsed. The right main landing gear was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, and he confirmed the damage to the right main landing gear assembly. The landing gear bellcrank was sent to the NTSB materials laboratory for examination. The bellcrank consisted of a long arm, approximately 7.5 inches long, and a short arm, approximately 2.1 inches long, with a 105-degree included angle between the two. The end of each arm was shaped in the form of a clevis. One of the clevis knuckles on the long bellcrank arm was fractured. The fracture surface had a rough appearance and was at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the clevis arm, consistent with an overstress fracture. No other anomalies were noted with the landing gear.
The pilot’s turning the airplane too sharply while exiting the runway, which resulted in the failure of the right main landing gear bellcrank due to an overstress fracture.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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