N2148J

On July 27, 2014, about 1830 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T airplane, N2148J, was substantially damaged during landing rollout at Ellington Airport (EFD), Houston, Texas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the flight, which departed without a flight plan from La Porte Municipal Airport (T41), La Porte, Texas about 1715.

While departing from T41, the pilot noted the landing gear unsafe light (red) was illuminated after retracting the landing gear. After extending the landing gear using emergency extension procedures, the right main landing gear light (green) did not illuminate. The pilot accomplished a low approach and received a visual report of his landing gear condition from tower personnel at Scholes Airport (GLS), Galveston, Texas, who informed him the landing gear appeared to be down. The pilot proceeded from GLS to EFD for landing. During rollout at EFD, the right main landing gear collapsed, damaging the right aileron.

Following the accident, a mechanic replaced the landing gear hydraulic pump, solenoids, and springs. After these components were replaced, the landing gear operated normally during ground testing. These maintenance actions were performed without the awareness or approval of the Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducting the investigation.