Narrative:
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 8 days 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.
Damaged on the ground
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Wednesday 14 October 2020 |
| Time: | 08:20 |
| Type: |  Beechcraft 99A Airliner |
| Operator: | Freight Runners Express |
| Registration: | N499CZ |
| MSN: | U-81 |
| First flight: | 1969 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 39544 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-28 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | Waterville-Robert Lafleur Airport, ME (WVL) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Taxi (TXI) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, NH (MHT/KMHT), United States of America |
| Waterville-Robert Lafleur Airport, ME (WVL/KWVL), United States of America |
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 8 days 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:
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.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Landing gear collapseDamaged on the ground
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, NH to Waterville-Robert Lafleur Airport, ME as the crow flies is 226 km (141 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
Distance from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, NH to Waterville-Robert Lafleur Airport, ME as the crow flies is 226 km (141 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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