Primary finding
Probable cause
A landing gear collapse due to the failure and/or separation of the pin in the right main landing gear.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
At the conclusion of a cross-country flight the pilot landed between 1,000 and 1,500 feet from the approach runway threshold, and about one second later he heard a sound and felt a “pop.” He thought the airplane was leaning to the right, which he attributed to a blown right main landing gear tire. He did not apply the brakes, turned off the runway, and when clear of the runway the right main landing gear collapsed. The right side of the stabilator was substantially damaged as a result of the collapse. Postaccident examination of the right main landing gear revealed a pin that secured the right main landing gear shock absorber rod to the landing gear shock absorber compressor plate was missing. The remains of the pin were not identified; therefore, the reason for the missing and/or fractured pin was not determined. A review of the maintenance records revealed that about 8 months before the accident (about 5 flight hours hours earlier), the shock absorber rubber disks of both main landing gear were replaced. That maintenance did not require removal of the pin.