ERA13LA129

While performing an instrument landing system approach, the pilot lowered the landing gear and confirmed that it was extended by observing the cockpit gear indication. Immediately after landing, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane veered to the left. After departing the side of the runway, the airplane struck a taxiway sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Examination of the main gear rigging showed that the emergency gear handle was able to rotate one full turn before hitting the internal stops. However, the Beech Aircraft Maintenance Manual states that there should only be 1/8- to 1/4-turn between the gear handle extended position and the internal stop during rigging checks. According to the manual, there are no down-position locks and, therefore, over-center tension is the only down-locking system. Therefore, the improper rigging of the landing gear during a maintenance check did not provide adequate down tension and prevented the landing gear from fully extending.

On February 7, 2013, about 1105 eastern standard time, a Beech 58, N458P, registered to and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged when the left main landing gear collapsed while landing at Smith Reynolds Airport (INT), Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight which was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from Butler County Regional Airport (HAO), Hamilton, Ohio about 0955. According to the pilot, while performing the Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach to runway 33, he extended the landing gear and confirmed that the three landing gear were extended by observing the "green" indicator light on the instrument panel. Immediately after touchdown, the left main gear collapsed, and the airplane veered to the left. After departing the side of the runway the airplane struck a taxiway sign which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Federal Aviation Inspectors (FAA) examined the main gear rigging and determined the emergency gear handle was able to rotate one full turn before hitting the internal stops. The Beech Aircraft Maintenance Manual states there should be 1/8 to 1/4 turn between the extended position and the internal stop. According to the Aircraft Maintenance Manual there are no down position locks and over center is the only down locking system. According to FAA records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate, with ratings for single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. The pilot's most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on March 28, 2012. The pilot reported 1,011 total hours of flight experience; of which, 95 of those hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The six-seat, low-wing, retractable tricycle-gear airplane, serial number TH119, was manufactured in 1970. It was powered by two Continental Motors IO-520-C, 285-horsepower engines, equipped with McCauley controllable-pitch propellers. Review of the airplane's logbooks revealed that its most recent annual inspection was completed on July 09, 2012. At the time of the inspection, the airplane had accumulated 5,690 total hours of time in service. The left and right engines accumulated approximately 1,152 and 30 total hours, respectively since new. The airplane had accumulated about 28 hours since the most recent annual inspection. The 1054 recorded weather observation at INT, included wind from 070 degrees at 7 knots, 8 miles visibility, overcast at 1,300 feet, temperature 3 degrees C, dew point minus 1 degree C, and a barometric altimeter setting of 30.30 inches of mercury.