Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 140 near Independence, OR — 2016-02-13

Final reportWPR16LA068
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Date
2016-02-13
Location
Independence, OR, USA
Airport
7S5
Aircraft
CESSNA 140
Registration
N3625V
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The failure of the left main landing gear wheel axle due to a fatigue crack.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot was landing the airplane on a dry, hard-surfaced runway. He stated that the approach and touchdown were normal. Just after touchdown, he felt "something similar to a bump," and the airplane started to drift to the left. He thought that the airplane possibly had a flat tire and tried to compensate with rudder input, but the airplane continued drifting to the left, exited the left side of the runway, and ground looped, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. An on-scene examination revealed that the left main landing gear axle had fractured, resulting in the separation of the wheel assembly. A detailed examination revealed that the axle was fractured near the inboard end, just outboard of the axle attachment flange. Portions of the fracture surface at the upper and lower sides of the axle had relatively smooth features oriented perpendicular to the outer surface, consistent with fatigue. The fatigue cracks initiated at a fillet corner at a change in the axle's outer diameter. The manufacturer specified inspection intervals to check for cracks and corrosion of the main landing gear axle; however, the accident airplane's maintenance logs were not located, and the airplane's maintenance history could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Inspection of the main landing gear axle prior to the accident could have prevented failure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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