AAR 45-10-19-528

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(AAR images from AAIR - Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research.)

Aircraft Serial Number (Type): 41-39145 (Douglas A-26B-15-DL Invader)

9th AF; 416th Bomb Gp; 668th Bomb Sq

Reason: Landing Accident (LAC)

Damage: Major damage (3)

Point Of Departure: A-55 Melun/Villaroche, France

Location: AAF Station A-55

*Personnel*
Duty	Name	Rank	S/N	Status
Pilot	Ames, William H.	1Lt	O-753586	Not injured
Airplane Mechanic - Gunner	Fessler, Herman S.	S/Sgt	37559819	Not injured
Airplane Mechanic - Gunner	Brown, Robert J.	S/Sgt	15102500	Not injured

Notes:
Pilot's mission: Local Transition.

Nature of accident: Landing accident.

Cause of accident: Nose wheel collapsed on landing.

Narrative: Completing a transition flight in aircraft A-26B-15, No. 41-39145, Lt. Ames lowered his landing gear in preparation for landing. The gear indicator indicated all three gears down; the red light went out and the green light came on. Consequently, Lt. Ames landed on the assumption that his landing gear was down and locked. He held the nose gear off the ground after making a normal landing. However, upon lowering the nose, the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft then slid on its nose for approximately 200 yards, and came to a stop on the runway. Both propellers were damages, and the nose wheel doors were buckled.

Investigation disclosed that the micro-switch box for the landing gear indicator light was rigidly mounted. Consequently, the position could not be adjusted properly in the elongated slots which were designed for that purpose. Therefore, the nose gear light indicated down and locked when the gear was only partially extended. The nose gear was not locked in the down position when the airplane landed. This nose gear had been repaired while this aircraft was attached to a previous group. Faulty repair work resulted in maladjustment of the retracting link, plus elimination of the bearing spacer in the assembly of the retracting mechanism. Consequently, there was too much play between the nose wheel down latch and the lower nose wheel retracting link assembly. Thus, the nose gear was not locked in the down position, and it collapsed when the nose was lowered. Faulty maintenance, rather than malfunction of mechanism was the cause of the collapse.