Accident Piper PA-44-180 Seminole N3042C, Sunday 20 May 2001

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Date:	Sunday 20 May 2001
Time:	10:45 LT
Type:	Piper PA-44-180 Seminole
Owner/operator:	Clearwater Aviation
Registration:	N3042C
MSN:	44-7995-124
Total airframe hrs:	12000 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming L-0-360
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Brooksville, FL - United States of America
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Brooksville-Hernando County Airport, FL (KBKV)
Destination airport:	St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, FL (PIE/KPIE)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
During the takeoff roll the pilot noticed the aircraft pulling to the left. He aborted takeoff, reduced power and as the pilot applied brakes the left main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the gear strut cylinder revealed fatigue cracks originating from multiple locations on opposite sides of the bolt hole located on the forward side of the cylinder. Microscopic examination of the bolt hole revealed that the surface of the bolt hole was roughly machined. The total fatigue region occupied about 35 percent of the cross section of the cylinder.

Probable Cause: The fatigue failure of the left main landing gear strut that resulted in collapse of the landing gear.

Accident investigation: