The airplane experienced a collapse of the right main landing gear at about 1548 Eastern time while landing. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the solo student pilot was not injured. Earlier, a flight instructor signed him off for solo flight, and exited the airplane. On the ensuing landing, the flight instructor reported the final approach appeared normal. He did not perceive any excess airspeed but did report the pitch attitude appeared stable. Within seconds of a “nice touchdown,” he heard skidding and saw the airplane veer off the north side of the runway. Preliminary examination revealed a spanwise crack in the upper wing skin of the right wing. The right main landing gear remained attached only by brake lines.
May 16, 2009, Norwood, Mass., Diamond Aircraft DA 40
The airplane experienced a collapse of the right main landing gear at about 1548 Eastern time while landing. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the solo student pilot was not injured. Earlier, a flight instructor signed him off for solo flight, and exited the airplane.
Key Takeaways:
- A solo student pilot's airplane sustained substantial damage when its right main landing gear collapsed during landing, though the pilot was uninjured.
- A flight instructor, who had just exited the plane, observed the landing as initially normal before hearing skidding and seeing the aircraft veer off the runway.
- Preliminary examination revealed a spanwise crack in the right wing's upper skin, with the right main landing gear detaching except for brake line attachment.
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