N475JN

On June 13, 1999, at 1305 central daylight time, a Cessna 414 twin-engine airplane, N475JN, registered to Vista Air, Inc., of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged during landing at the Springdale Municipal Airport near Springdale, Arkansas. The commercial pilot and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Springdale, approximately 1100, with a destination of Danville, Arkansas.

During a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the commercial pilot reported that as the aircraft lifted off the runway at Springdale, he heard a bump. It was "a small bump so he wasn't concerned." When he cycled the landing gear up, there was a "loud bang as the gear locked in the up position." He continued to Danville as planned. During the approach to Danville, he lowered the landing gear, and the right main landing gear green light did not illuminate. When he cycled the landing gear up, there was again a "loud bang as the gear locked in the up position." At this time, he elected to return to Springdale.

The pilot further reported that while en route to Springdale, he noticed that his "cruise airspeed was 10 knots slower than normal. He contacted Memphis Center and advised them of his situation. Memphis requested that he fly by the control tower at the Drake Field Airport in Fayetteville, Arkansas, for a visual check. During the flyby, the controller advised the pilot that the "right main landing gear was trailing and turned slightly in." The pilot then lowered the landing gear and flew by the tower again. The controller confirmed that the landing gear was down; however, it appeared that the right main landing gear was "slightly trailing." The flight then continued to Springdale.

Upon arrival at Springdale Municipal Airport, an A & P mechanic with an FAA Inspection Authorization (IA), who was in radio contact with the aircraft, requested the pilot perform a flyby to confirm the gear position. The mechanic, who observed the aircraft with binoculars, and other ground personnel agreed that the gear appeared to be down. After all emergency procedures for lowering the landing gear were completed, the pilot advised the mechanic that he still did not have a green light for the right main landing gear.

The pilot reported that he initiated a slow approach to runway 36. When landing was assured, he shut down both engines. The aircraft touched down, and during the landing roll, after about 500 feet, the right main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft slid approximately 300 feet, turned 90 degrees, skidded off the runway, and stopped about 50 feet east of the pavement.

Examination of the aircraft by the A & P mechanic revealed that right wing flap linkage was fractured, and the right wing aileron and rear spar were damaged. Further examination of the right main landing gear revealed that the "gear torque tube support bracket/pivot bearing broke allowing the gear down lock tube to break by overtorquing."