Pilot Debrief

AERONCA O-58B near Bulverde, TX — 2016-01-31

Final reportCEN16LA101
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Date
2016-01-31
Location
Bulverde, TX, USA
Airport
1T8
Aircraft
AERONCA O-58B
Registration
N47185
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The failure of the left main landing gear wheel casting due to fatigue, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the landing roll.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot reported that, following a normal touchdown and during the landing roll, the airplane suddenly veered to the left. The pilot corrected for the left swerve with the application of right rudder and brake. The airplane subsequently entered a right swerve. The airplane did not respond to the pilot's application of left rudder and brake inputs. The pilot reported that there was a 15-ft descending embankment and trees off the right side of the runway and that, to avoid a runway excursion, he lowered the left wing and intentionally ground looped the airplane to the right. The left wing subsequently contacted the runway surface. A postaccident examination revealed a fracture to the left main landing gear wheel casting. The wheel fracture was located along the inner bearing race shelf and resulted in the bearing being exposed. The bearing race flange had fractured circumferentially and radially in two places. Further examination of the fracture surfaces revealed areas of fatigue, which were the result of casting oxide imperfections that had been present since the wheel was cast and had developed under typical loading of the landing gear. Additionally, the observed alternating fracture features were consistent with spectrum loading, typical of those experienced by a landing gear wheel. Ultimately, the wheel failed as a result of progressive fatigue cracking. The wheel had been cast in 1942, and the owner reported that the airplane had accumulated 3,520 hours since new with 10 hours since the last inspection.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing after initial veer to the left.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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