Probable cause
A missing right main landing gear aft trunnion mount attachment nut.
NTSB analysis
While landing following an uneventful flight, the right main landing gear collapsed. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration found that an attachment bolt and retainer assembly had backed out of the aft landing gear trunnion assembly. The landing gear then separated at the aft trunnion. The barrel nut that held the attachment bolt was missing, and was not subsequently located. The inspector also noted no evidence of any pertinent maintenance performed within the previous year. Following the accident, the operator inspected all 30 fleet airplanes with no similar anomalies noted. In addition, all aircraft maintenance technicians were briefed on the accident and alerted to the area where the gear attachment hardware separated.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA10LA108 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jan 1, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Concord, North Carolina
- Nearest airport
- Concord Regional (JQF)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC)
- Light
- Night
Piper PA-32R-300
- N-number
- N8985C
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 135 (charter and commuter)
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.