FTW96LA016

The aircraft touched down short of runway 11 and then landed hard on the runway. The right main landing gear separated from the aircraft and the aircraft skidded off the runway, crossed a taxiway and hit a fence. Winds were reported from the southwest at 15 MPH gusting to 30. Examination of the fractured surface at the landing gear separation point provided evidence that the fracture was the result of fatigue initiated by fretting where the landing gear attached to the fuselage.

On October 12, 1995, at 1000 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 182E, N3198Y, lost the right main landing gear on touch down at Fort Collins Community Airpark, Fort Collins, Colorado. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight was operating under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for this business flight which originated from Fort Morgan, Colorado, approximately 0730.

The aircraft was landing on runway 11. The witness (statement enclosed) reported southwest winds at 15 to 20 mph with gust to 30 mph. This witness observed the airplane in a 10 to 15 degree right bank "drop to the runway from a height of 3 to 4 feet and touchdown on the right main landing gear" shearing off the right gear. The pilot applied power and the next touchdown was "on the runway on the belly, horizontal stabilizer, and landing gear." Subsequently, the airplane exited the right side of the runway, crossed a taxiway, and hit a fence.

Examination, by the FAA inspector revealed, ground scars corresponding to the main landing gear tires 88 feet short of the runway threshold. At 10 feet short of the threshold, a right main landing gear tire impression was found, and at three feet short of the threshold, a left main landing gear tire mark was found. The tire marks that were found on the runway 31 feet from the threshold matched the marks found short of the runway. A 14 inch by 1.5 inch gouge three inches in depth was found 31 feet beyond the initial runway touchdown point. A scrape mark was found from the gouge to where the aircraft came to rest. Pieces of green glass were found along the scraped area and the right wing exhibited tip damage with the position light separated and missing from the wing. The aircraft lower right fuselage was crushed inward, the right wing was bent upward with tip damage and the right wing fuel tank integrity was compromised and approximately 15 gallons of fuel spilled onto the taxiway.

The pilot, during an interview, conducted by the FAA inspector, stated the flight and approach were normal with no aircraft problems noted until touchdown. The pilot did not provide information concerning the touch down short of the runway.

Portions of the right main landing gear were sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for examination. Detail examination revealed a fracture "typical of a cracking region." The origin area of the fatigue cracking was located in an area that contained fretting damage from contact with the clamping mechanism.