Piper PA-30 N7967Y accident near New Orleans, Louisiana

Probable cause

The failure of a landing gear torque arm which resulted in a landing gear collapse and runway excursion.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that while on approach he extended the landing gear, and the three green landing gear indication lights were illuminated; however, he noted that the gear took longer to extend than expected. There was a minimal crosswind, the wind was not gusting, and he lowered the right wing into the crosswind. Upon touch down, the right wing dropped and contacted the runway then the nose gear collapsed, and the gear warning horn sounded. The airplane continued off the right side of the runway and came to rest upright in the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing spar.

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left torque arm for right gear and nose gear was broken. The nose gear push pull rod and rod end for the right gear push pull cable was detached from the left torque arm. The right torque arm for the left gear was intact. The rod end for the left gear push pull cable was still attached and functional.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN25LA015 for the full record.