PA-44 Seminole/Turbo Seminole
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 129.5; Flight Crew Total 1088.8; Flight Crew Type 426.6
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff
Aircraft
We departed on a training flight. It was a VFR day with no issues noted on the aircraft prior to departure. After doing maneuvers we landed on runway 17 at the ZZZ airport. During takeoff on runway 17 with a simulated engine failure during takeoff before VMC; the left side of the aircraft dropped on the runway. From our perspective it appeared as a collapsed gear. The aircraft was immediately shut down and exited. Upon looking at the left-wing area it was noticed the left main gear strut had snapped in half with the wing resting on the wheel.
The weather was VFR. Upon pre-flight inspection; no issue with the landing gear or airplane was discovered. During start; taxi; runup; takeoff roll; and initial gear retraction on climbout; the landing gear functioned normally. Upon reaching ZZZ a landing was performed by student. Throughout the maneuver; the landing gear functioned normally. After the landing; we taxied back to the approach end of runway 17 and the landing gear continued to function normally. During initial takeoff roll a simulated engine failure was demonstrated; I retarded the throttles to idle and applied brake pressure. Immediately following; the left main strut snapped; and the airplane rolled onto its left side causing the left prop to contact the pavement. The left main gear failure occurred at approximately 1;750.
Flight Instructor and student flying a PA44 aircraft on training flight reported main landing gear collapse on takeoff roll.