Definition
An accident or incident during landing or ground operations in which the landing gear is the primary contributor to the damage or unsafe outcome. This includes hard landings that overstress the gear, landing with the gear retracted, collapsed gear from side loads or improper touchdown technique, and runway excursions caused by gear failure or mishandling.
Plain English
Something going wrong during landing because of the wheels and their supporting structure — for example, landing too hard, landing with the wheels still up, or losing control on the ground because a wheel collapsed or struck something.
Context Anchor
Seen in approach and landing discussions, especially with retractable-gear airplanes and landing checklists.
Derivation
“Mishap” comes from “mis-,” meaning bad or wrong, and “hap,” an older word meaning chance or luck. That helps here because a mishap is an unwanted bad event, not just a planned maintenance issue or a normal gear movement.
Why Pilots Care
Recognizing these mishaps helps pilots follow correct procedures to avoid gear damage, runway excursions, or more serious accidents during landing.
Intuition Check
Do not assume this only means the landing gear broke by itself. In this context, it can also include pilot actions, missed checks, or landing with the gear in the wrong position.
Example Sentence 1
After reviewing the report, the instructor noted that the gear collapse during the crosswind landing was classified as a landing gear-related mishap rather than a structural failure.
Example Sentence 2
Crosswind landings increase the chance of a landing gear-related mishap if the airplane is not aligned with the runway.