N3817T

On August 19, 2003, at 0716 mountain standard time, a Piper PA-28R-180, N3817T, experienced a right main landing gear collapse during the landing roll at Ernest A. Love Field, Prescott, Arizona. North-Aire, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the private pilot were not injured. The flight originated from Prescott at 0630 for the local instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

In a telephone interview, the CFI reported that the purpose of the flight was to perform a biennial flight review. After completing two uneventful touch-and-go takeoffs and landings, the private pilot attempted a third. He configured the airplane for a power-off landing and all three landing gear lights in the cockpit were illuminated in indication that the landing gear was in a down and locked position. Upon touching down on the runway, the airplane veered to the right and the CFI felt as though it was sinking on the right side. He immediately seized the flight controls and applied full power in efforts to make the airplane airborne. The right main gear collapsed and he aborted all takeoff efforts. The airplane came to rest on its left main landing gear with the right gear in retracted position.

In a written statement, an airplane mechanic reported that he conducted an on scene inspection of the airplane immediately after the accident. The airplane was placed on jacks and the main landing gear was lowered into the full extended position and then cycled into both the full up and down position using the aircraft hydraulic system and electicaly driven pump. At that time, no defects or faults were found that could have resulted in a partial gear failure. Later, a detailed landing gear extension/retraction functional test was conducted with no discrepancies noted.

This accident was upgraded from an incident on December 11, 2003, based on a damage assessment by the Federal Aviation Administration. There was damage to the airplane's right wing tip, right outboard wing skin, outboard wing spar, and propeller.