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Subsequent investigation revealed no evidence of malfunctioning of the aircraft or of any of its components with the exception of one of the highly stressed fittings of the right landing gear, which had failed. Examination of this break indicated that there had not been any progressive failure of the metal. It appears, from an analysis of the flight, that the failure was initiated during the landing at Greenville and that subsequent landings and takeoffs further weakened the member until it failed completely following severe application of the brakes at Tampa.
Although the landing gear was inspected immediately following the Greenville incident by the flight crew and a CAA Inspector, the examination must have been cursory in nature because the aircraft was on the ground for a period of only five minutes. Although the carrier does not maintain elaborate maintenance facilities at Greenville, South Carolina, it does at Atlanta, Georgia, which was the next scheduled stop. The flight crew did not report the Greenville incident when the trip arrived at Atlanta; however, other routine matters such as minor malfunctionings were recorded in the Pilot's Performance Report. Captain Harmon did not make any verbal mention of the Greenville incident to any of the carrier's Maintenance or Operations personnel or to Captain Coney.
PROBABLE CAUSE: Damage to the right landing gear fitting sustained in the landing at Greenville, South Carolina, which resulted in its subsequent failure upon landing at Tampa.
CONTRIBUTING FACTOR: Failure of the flight crew to notify the proper authorities at Atlanta of the circumstances surrounding the landing at Greenville, South Carolina.
