Pilot Debrief

HOWELL BOB HOWELL SPECIAL near Minden, NV — 2016-05-27

Final reportWPR16LA117
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Date
2016-05-27
Location
Minden, NV, USA
Airport
MEV
Aircraft
HOWELL BOB HOWELL SPECIAL
Registration
N4393H
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The failure of the right main landing gear assembly due to overstress fracture.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that the landing was "normal" but that, during the landing roll, he noticed that the experimental, amateur-built airplane started veering to the left. Shortly thereafter, the right wing suddenly dropped and impacted the runway. He was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane, and it veered off the runway because the right main landing gear (MLG) had collapsed. Postaccident examination of the right MLG assembly revealed that the right main tire and wheel had separated from the airplane and that a strut had separated about midpoint. Examination of the fracture features of the right MLG assembly revealed that they exhibited matte-gray features on slant angles, consistent with a ductile overstress fracture. No evidence of preexisting cracks or significant corrosion was observed. The right MLG assembly likely failed due to a hard landing and/or side loading on the MLG.

Analysis

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

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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