Pilot Debrief

BELLANCA 8KCAB near Homer, AK — 2012-07-29

Final reportANC12IA085
Sign in to save
Date
2012-07-29
Location
Homer, AK, USA
Airport
PAHO
Aircraft
BELLANCA 8KCAB
Registration
N5026B
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The failure of the left main landing gear leg due to fatigue. Contributing to the incident was maintenance personnel's failure to completely remove all corrosion before repainting the gear leg.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a dry paved runway. He stated that just after touchdown, he heard a noise and felt the airplane pull to the left. He tried to abort the landing, but noted that the left main landing gear had separated from the fuselage, so he landed the airplane in the grassy area adjacent to the runway. During the landing the airplane sustained minor damage. The spring steel left main landing gear assembly was fractured about 5 inches from the fuselage attach point. Postaccident metallurgical examination revealed that the landing gear leg fractured due to fatigue that initiated from pits on the lower surface of the leg. The pits were filled with brown paint that was covered with white paint. Therefore, it is likely that the pits were formed by corrosion that was not completely removed before the gear leg was repainted.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have inspected landing gear before flight to prevent failure.

NTSB coding

  • Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) · Landing-flare/touchdown
  • Maintenance

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

Related mishaps