MIA98LA165

The pilot stated that during the flight, the electrical system failed. He attempted to restore electrical power using the emergency procedures but was unable. He pumped the landing gear down using 30 pumps of the handle to the point where he heard and it felt like the landing gear was extended. He elected to land at a nearby grass runway and the airplane touched down about 1,800 feet down the 3,700 foot runway. During the landing roll the right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. Shortly after the accident the master switch was turned on and power was available to raise and lower the flaps. Additionally, during repair of the airplane following the accident no maintenance was performed or required to the electrical system or to the right main landing gear assembly. According to the emergency procedures section of the airplane information manual, the emergency hand pump is to be pumped until resistance is heavy-about 35 cycles.

On May 17, 1998, about 1416 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172RG, N6562V, registered to Aviation Atlanta, Inc., experienced collapse of the right main landing gear during the landing roll at a private airstrip in Roberta, Georgia. 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 commercial-rated pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated about 1245, from the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, Chamblee, Georgia.

The pilot stated that during the flight while near Roberta, Georgia, he noted "dimming" of the radio frequency lights and also initially stated that the ammeter indicated 0. He executed the electrical malfunction procedures and shortly after that, experienced complete electrical failure. The emergency procedures were not successful in re-establishing electrical power. He noted the airstrip and elected to land to the east on the 3,700-foot grass runway, flaps up. He pumped the landing gear down using about 30 pumps of the handle until he heard and it felt like the landing gear was extended. The touchdown point was determined to be about 1,800 feet down the runway and during the landing roll, the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway and came to rest upright.

According to the airstrip owner's son, on the day of and shortly after the accident, his father turned on the master switch and electrical power was available. He did this to check the fuel gauges and also raised and lowered the flaps. According to personnel from the facility that performed the structural repairs to the airplane, no maintenance was performed or required of the electrical or landing gear system. Also, there were no damaged components in the right main landing gear assembly.

According to the emergency procedures section of the airplane information manual, the emergency hand pump is to be pumped until the resistance becomes heavy; about 35 cycles.