Mesa, AZ, USA
N5966P
PIPER PA 24-250
The airline transport pilot reported that, during the approach to land, the right main landing gear (MLG) would not extend and lock, and the locked gear-down position would not illuminate. The pilot attempted to manually extend the gear and get it to lock without success. The pilot then conducted a normal landing, and during the rollout, the right MLG collapsed. Examination of the airplane revealed that the two landing gear cables were rigged slightly differently and that the right bracket that connected the landing gear transmission to the airframe was broken off. Examination of the break with a magnifying glass revealed that it likely had not occurred recently. With the airplane on jacks and the landing gear cables disconnected, the MLG successfully locked down, and the MLG could be manually returned to the "up" position with no restrictions. The airplane experienced a gear-up landing 13 years before the accident, and it is likely that the differential rigging of the two gear cables had existed since that time and led to the MLG being just on the edge of locking. The broken bracket that connected the MLG transmission to the airframe likely fractured some time before the accident and eventually separated from the airframe. The separation of the right MLG transmission bracket coupled with the differential rigging of the two landing gear cables likely prevented the right MLG from moving over center to the "locked" position and resulted in the gear-up landing.
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 6, 2014, at 1226 mountain standard time, a Piper PA24-250, N5966P, had the right main landing gear collapse during the landing roll at Falcon Field Airport, Mesa, Arizona. The airline transport pilot and one passenger were uninjured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The cross-country flight departed Nephi, Utah, about 0930 with a planned destination of Mesa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that on approach to land the right main landing gear would not extend and indicate a locked gear down position. After a low fly by, the pilot attempted to manually extend the gear but was unable to get a safe gear indication. The pilot made a normal landing and during the roll out the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. TESTS AND RESEARCHA Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage. He discovered that the rigging of the two landing gear cables was slightly off. The bracket that connected the landing gear transmission to the airframe was broken off; when examined with a magnifying glass, the break did not appear to have occurred recently. With the airplane on jacks and the landing gear cables disconnected, the gear successfully locked down, and the gear could be manually returned to the up position with no restrictions. He determined that the airplane had a gear up landing in 2001.
The failure of the right main landing gear (MLG) transmission mounting bracket coupled with the differential rigging of the two landing gear cables, which prevented the right MLG from moving to the down-and-locked position before landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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