LAX08LA060

The pilot observed that the windsocks located at each end of runway indicated tailwinds of about 10 knots in either direction. The midfield sock indicated a direct crosswind from the north. The pilot elected to approach the east runway, and touched down abeam the midfield windsock. Upon touchdown the airplane encountered a left-to-right crosswind, and as the airplane decelerated, the pilot noticed the wind shift to a quartering right tailwind. He elected to abort the landing. As he advanced the throttle the engine sputtered, the left main gear collapsed, and the airplane ground looped as it approached the runway's edge. Examination of the left main landing gear spring strut revealed that the strut separated where the wheel bolts to the strut. The fracture face of the strut was granular in texture and uniform matte gray in color. The fracture surface for the section of landing gear strut that remained attached to the wheel was closely examined, and it was noted that the fracture surface had an approximate 1/16 inch flat dark triangular section at the corner of the mounting bolt hole. The Safety Board Materials Laboratory examination confirmed the presence of a 0.072 inch fatigue crack at this location that would be sufficient to cause a failure of the strut.

On February 16, 2008, at 1245 Hawaiian standard time, a Cessna 305-A, N473GF, experienced a left main landing gear collapse during a crosswind landing at Dillingham Airfield, Mokuleia, Hawaii. The airplane was operated by the Honolulu Soaring Club under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The airline transport certificated pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated at Dillingham Airfield at 1230.

The pilot reported that he observed the windsocks at each end of runway 8/26, and both indicated tail winds of about 10 knots in either direction. The midfield windsock indicated a direct crosswind from the north. He elected to approach runway 8 and touched down abeam the midfield windsock. Upon touchdown the airplane experienced a left-to-right crosswind, and as the airplane decelerated, the pilot noticed the wind shift to a quartering right tail wind. He elected to execute a go-around. As he advanced the throttle, the engine sputtered, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane ground looped to the left as it approached the runway's edge.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the left main landing gear spring strut and found that the strut separated where the wheel bolts to the strut. The fracture face of the strut was granular in texture and uniform matte gray in color. When the fracture surface of the landing gear strut section that remained attached to the wheel was more closely examined, it exhibited an approximate 1/16 inch flat dark triangular section at the corner of the mounting bolt hole. The Safety Board Materials Laboratory examination confirmed the presence of a 0.072 inch fatigue crack at this location.