Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 14 October 2020
Aircraft Type: Beechcraft 99A Airliner
Owner/operator: Freight Runners Express
Registration Number: N499CZ
Location: Waterville-Robert Lafleur Airport, ME (WVL) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Taxi
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Component Affected: Right main landing gear drag leg support fitting and angle bracket.Right main landing gear drag leg support fitting and angle bracket.
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
An airplane incident occurred during taxiing when the right main landing gear collapsed, causing significant damage to the right wing. Examination revealed fatigue cracking in the drag leg support fitting and angle bracket, suggesting a potential failure. The maintenance procedure of adding grease to the fitting, without examining for fatigue cracking, likely contributed to the issue. The incident is likely caused by fatigue cracking within the landing gear component.An airplane incident occurred during taxiing when the right main landing gear collapsed, causing significant damage to the right wing. Examination revealed fatigue cracking in the drag leg support fitting and angle bracket, suggesting a potential failure. The maintenance procedure of adding grease to the fitting, without examining for fatigue cracking, likely contributed to the issue. The incident is likely caused by fatigue cracking within the landing gear component.

Description

While taxiing to the ramp, the airplane’s right main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. Examination of the right main landing gear drag leg support fitting and angle bracket revealed several areas of fatigue cracking with multiple origins. The attach angle bracket fracture exhibited features consistent with fatigue. The reason for the crack initiation could not be determined. A review of the maintenance procedures performed on the right main landing gear 8ÿdays prior to the accident found that they instructed the mechanic to add grease to the drag leg fitting. The procedures did not specify to examine the landing gear for fatigue cracking or anomalies; therefore, it is unlikely that the mechanic would have looked in the area of the cracked main landing gear drag leg support fitting and angle bracket. Furthermore, there was no nondestructive testing procedures for examining the main landing gear drag brace, so it’s unlikely an inspection would have detected the multiple areas of fatigue cracking. Probable Cause: A failure of the right main landing gear drag leg support fitting and angle bracket as a result of multiple areas of fatigue cracking.

Primary Cause

Fatigue cracking within the drag leg support fitting and angle bracket of the right main landing gear.Fatigue cracking within the drag leg support fitting and angle bracket of the right main landing gear.

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