N333WD

On May 25, 1998, at 1201 central daylight time, a Cessna 310L, N333WD, was substantially damaged when the left main gear collapsed during a landing roll on runway 30R (4397' x 50', dry, asphalt) at the Palwaukee Municipal Airport, Wheeling, Illinois. The airline transport pilot, private pilot rated student, and three passengers reported no injuries. The instructional 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. A VFR flight plan was on file. The flight departed from Muskegon County Airport, Muskegon, Michigan, at 1115.

According to the instructor's written statement, the dual student had flown the instrument approach and had relinquished the controls to him for the landing on runway 30R. The instructor stated that a normal landing was made and the aircraft rolled approximately 1,500' to 2,000' when the left landing gear collapsed. The pilot stated that the aircraft slid to the left, came to rest, and everyone evacuated the aircraft.

An Air Traffic Controller at the Palwaukee Air Traffic Control tower reported that the landing appeared normal and the airplane traveled approximately 2,000' down the runway prior to the gear collapsing.

Post crash investigation showed that the bellcrank assembly was sheared at both connection points of the strut assembly for the left main gear. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector stated, in a written report, that the fracture of the bellcrank assembly was clean, with no signs of stress, corrosion or previous damage.