It would be interesting if anyone knows whether the MLG on the early 182 series is stronger than the MLG of the tailwheel Skywagons.

Experience suggests you get cracks in the rear bulwark before the Cessna MLG on trikes fail, and yet the tailwheel series do experience MLG failures - hence mods like the P-ponk gear box strengthening.

I realise the MLG failures are due to poor technique, heavy landings or hostile landing terrain.

There are actually two different failure points (at least) on Cessna main landing gears.

Many of these (most?) are the result of the gearbox in the fuselage failing, as a result of extreme forces applied to the main landing gear LEGS. Others are failures of the gear leg itself, in the area of the axle attachment, typically cracks originating at the axle bolt holes.

In general, both these types of failures tend to occur more frequently in tailwheel aircraft.....a ground loop being the most common starting point for gearbox failure and lots of off airport, large tires, and especially ski ops being more common for failure at the axle attach point.

Both these types of activities are much more common in tailwheel types, not to suggest that tri gear aircraft aren’t used off airport or on skis, it’s just much less common.

And, of course, while it is possible to ground loop a 182 (focus and determination are, after all, formidable skill sets) such events are rare. While ground loops are relatively common in tailwheel aircraft.

That leaves us with damage to gearboxes that’s discovered during routine maintenance. And, again, I suspect the primary denominator between aircraft will mostly be determined by the type of use and terrain that gear has been subjected to.

A thorough inspection of gearboxes is a good idea, but it can be hard to see some damage without removing the gear. I know one operator in Alaska (a Part 135 operator) who had his landing gears dye penetrant tested periodically due to operation on wheel skis. A bit extreme, but this was a “power user” operating in tough conditions. And, he’d had a failure of a gear leg at the axle attach.

MTV

I remember a number of years ago, they were considering an AD to NDT the MLG legs on tailwheels Cessnas.
The problem was gear legs breaking in the area of the axle bolt holes.
I don't remember if it was a service bulletin or what, but the AD never materialized.
I heard that most if not all of the gear legs that failed had been on ski's,
lots of stress in different directions than on wheel gear.