19980918025479A

Acft landed, the left gear collapsed, and the acft slid off of rwy 18.(.19)on September 18, 1998, about 0831 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180, N39776, registered to discovery aviation center, inc., experienced a collapse of the right main landing gear on landing at the Space coast regional airport, Titusville, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the same airport about 15 minutes earlier. The pilot stated that he intended on remaining in the traffic pattern, and on the downwind leg when he lowered the landing gear selector handle, the three down-and-locked lights did not illuminate. He flew past the tower and was advised that all gears appeared to be down and locked. He then cycled the landing gear selector handle, with no indication of the gears being down and locked. He then pressed to test the lights, but they did not illuminate and landed the airplane. During the landing roll, the left main landing gear began collapsing. The airplane then yawed to the left, causing the left main landing gear to lock in position and the right main landing gear to collapse. (-23) the aircraft landed runway 18 at tix, the left gear was not locked down. The aircraft departed the runway to the left side causing substantial damage.