Executive summary
On Friday 9 January 2004 at about 1915, ZK-DGS a Piper PA23-250E Aztec landed at Paraparaumu Aerodrome. The aircraft taxied to the fuel pumps and as it was coming to a stop the right main landing gear collapsed rearwards. The 2 pilots on board were uninjured.
The main landing gear drag brace forward attachment bolt failed because of fatigue, possibly from stress caused by out of round bushings in the drag brace. The aircraft had been rebuilt following serious accident damage in 1995. These components were possibly re-used during this rebuild and stress initiators might have been created during the accident that then led to the bolt eventually failing.
A safety issue identified was the use of parts from accident-damaged aircraft. A safety recommendation was made to the Director of Civil Aviation addressing this issue.
Related Recommendations
Publish guidelines for operators and maintenance facilities for the appropriate re-use and inspection of parts from accident damaged aircraft.