N7648Q

On May 9, 2000, about 0935 mountain standard time, a Cessna 310Q, N7648Q, experienced a right main landing gear collapse during landing roll at Falcon Field Airport, Mesa, Arizona. Perez Electric, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed from Brackett Field, La Verne, California, about 0740 with a planned destination of Falcon Field. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that he performed a normal approach and landing on runway 22L. During the landing rollout, he eased back pressure on the control yoke and retracted the wing flaps. Upon application of brake pressure, the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing dropped, resulting in the airplane veering to the right. The airplane continued to the right, off the runway, and came to rest in a dirt field. The airplane incurred damage to the right wing and horizontal stabilizer.

The Safety Board's Materials Laboratory examined the right main landing gear attachment. The materials specialist stated that the threaded rod/bolt fractured in overstress. The part had a classical "cup-cone" shape with shear lips at the edges and adjacent threads were also cracked. The nut side was deformed and flattened as was the mating corner of the opposite piece.