N2305B-Left Main Gear Collapse on Slow Taxi

[Doug Robertson]

On Saturday afternoon, 10 November 2007 at Santa Paula Airport SZP, California, N2305B, a 1948 TEMCO GC-1B Swift aircraft made a normal landing on runway 22. The aircraft turned off at midfield to the right in a slow taxi when the left main gear suddenly collapsed and there was a prop strike with the asphalt. The flaps were still extended. The resultant clatter right in front of me got everyone's attention. The two occupants of N2305B speedily egressed the aircraft.

There was no fuel spill. The left wing was quickly lifted by 5 or 6 nearby men and the Swift's pilot was able to kick the failed gear down. The aircraft was then pushed to the transient aircraft parking tiedown area across SZP's single runway 04-22.

One pilot observer from Cincinnati, Ohio reported seeing the same distinctive aircraft earlier in the day operating at Lompoc Airport LPC in adjacent Santa Barbara County. Please see my photos of N2305B taken immediately after the accident and note the times taken in the Photo Metadata sections. I have several prior photos of the aircraft taken at CMA.

A knowledgeable observer stated the wood laminated prop for the 125 Hp Swift is no longer made. There may be flap damage and the engine will require a teardown inspection for crankshaft runout and other tolerance conformance.
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PP ASEL

[Bluedharma]

Thanks for the post Doug.
I am just glad that no one was hurt.

[Doug Robertson]

Thanks Blue,

A damage assessment team flew in this afternoon from CMA to look over the N2305B aircraft. I took some more photos, now uploaded. The taxi speed was very low when the left gear collapsed, hence no occupant injuries.

The prop is toast. The C-125 engine does not have a counter-balanced crankshaft. I don't know whether this aircraft has the heavy case C-125 or not. In any event, it will require an engine teardown because of the prop strike under power.

Two curious oddities or anomalies: The Swift's gear lever is shaped like a flap and the flap lever is shaped like a wheel-go figure! Did this figure in the accident??
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PP ASEL