N5966PPiper PA-24-250 · 1959

On September 6, 2014, at 1226 mountain standard time, a Piper PA24-250, N5966P, had the right main landing gear collapse during the landing roll at Falcon Field Airport, Mesa, Arizona. The airline transport pilot and one passenger were uninjured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The cross-country flight departed Nephi, Utah, about 0930 with a planned destination of Mesa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot reported that on approach to land the right main landing gear would not extend and indicate a locked gear down position. After a low fly by, the pilot attempted to manually extend the gear but was unable to get a safe gear indication.

The pilot made a normal landing and during the roll out the right main landing gear collapsed.

The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage. He discovered that the rigging of the two landing gear cables was slightly off. The bracket that connected the landing gear transmission to the airframe was broken off; when examined with a magnifying glass, the break did not appear to have occurred recently. With the airplane on jacks and the landing gear cables disconnected, the gear successfully locked down, and the gear could be manually returned to the up position with no restrictions. He determined that the airplane had a gear up landing in 2001.