CHI02LA161

The aircraft sustained substantial damage when the main landing gear collapsed on landing rollout. The pilot reported that he decided to terminate the flight and land at Dacy Airport in Harvard, Illinois due to deteriorating visibility and the inability to communicate with Air Traffic Control. He said that the panel mounted radio displays went blank but the charge indicator indicated a normal charge rate. The pilot reported that he lowered the landing gear and that the gear down indicator light, "...appeared to be green." The main landing gear collapsed during the landing. The airplane landing gear operation is accomplised by hydraulic actuators powered by an electrically-driven hydraulic power pack. An emergency gear extension hand pump is used for emergency landing gear extension. A representative of the maintenance facility that performed the repairs to the airplane stated that the landing gear system was examined and no defects were found. The checks included the normal retraction system, the emergency retraction system, and the position indicating system. He stated that the charging system was not operating when the airplane was recovered. He said that the alternator was replaced during the repairs to the airplane.

On June 7, 2002, at 0835 central daylight time, a Cessna R182, N756TK, piloted by a private pilot sustained substantial damage when the main landing gear collapsed on landing rollout on runway 27 (3,589 feet by 105 feet, dry/turf) at Dacy Airport (0C0), Harvard, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The flight originated at Waukegan Regional Airport, Waukegan, Illinois at 0755 central daylight time with the intended destination of Boone Municipal Airport, Boone, Iowa.

According to the pilot's written statement, he was approximately 18 nautical miles east of the Greater Rockford Airport (RFD), Rockford, Illinois, when the decision was made to " ... terminate the flight due to deteriorating visibility and the inability to communicate with [air traffic control]." The pilot stated that a 180 degree turn was made with the intent of landing at the Galt Airport (10C), Wonder Lake, Illinois, to evaluate the communications and electrical problems and to re-evaluate the weather conditions. The pilot said that shortly after making the 180 degree turn to 10C, 0C0 came into view and he elected to land at 0C0. He said that the panel mounted radio displays went blank but the charge indicator indicated a normal charge rate. The pilot reported that he lowered the landing gear and that the gear down indicator light, "...appeared to be green." The main landing gear collapsed during the landing at 0C0.

The airplane landing gear operation is accomplised by hydraulic actuators powered by an electrically-driven hydraulic power pack. An emergency gear extension hand pump is used for emergency landing gear extension.

In a telephone interview, a representative of the maintenance facility that performed the repairs to the airplane stated that the landing gear system was examined and no defects were found. The checks included the normal retraction system, the emergency retraction system, and the position indicating system. He stated that the charging system was not operating when the airplane was recovered. He said that the alternator was replaced during the repairs to the airplane.