Pilot Debrief

CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20 near Muncie, IN — 2023-07-14

Final reportCEN23LA429
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Date
2023-07-14
Location
Muncie, IN, USA
Airport
MIE
Aircraft
CIRRUS DESIGN CORP SR20
Registration
N653GS
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

A loss of directional control during the landing roll due to the left wheel seizing from insufficient grease in the left wheel bearing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing roll the left wheel locked up, the nosewheel shimmied, and the airplane pulled to the left. The pilot tried to correct with right rudder; however, the airplane veered off the runway, rolled down a small hill, and came to rest in a drainage ditch. Substantial damage was not found until February 15, 2024, when the airplane underwent an annual inspection. During the annual inspection, a crack was found in the lower fuselage that ran up the aft spar to the back passenger seat. A postaccident examination of the left wheel revealed that the left wheel bearing lacked sufficient grease, which resulted in the left wheel seizure.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Failure to properly grease wheel bearings during annual inspection.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents6

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