CircumFlightN22GL Steen Skybolt accident
NTSB CEN18LA271 · 2018-07-14 · Lexington, TX · near TA75
Docket — crew, injuries and powerplant
Summary
After landing and while taxiing to the hangar, the bottom of the airplane's fuselage began to drag on the ground. Realizing that something was wrong, the pilot stopped the airplane and turned the engine magneto switch to off. Postaccident examination revealed that a fatigue failure of the main landing gear (MLG) truss had occurred, which allowed the MLG to spread apart.
Full narrative
On July 14, 2018, about 1400 central daylight time, a Leake Steen Skybolt biplane, N22GL, was substantially damaged when the main landing gear failed while it was taxiing from landing at Cotton Patch Airport (TA75), Lexington, Texas. The pilot was not injured, but the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the accident site at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from TA75 about 1300.
According to the pilot, he flew to Taylor, Texas, to refuel his airplane. He then flew back to TA75 and landed. While taxiing to the hangar, the bottom of the airplane's fuselage began to drag on the ground. Realizing that something was wrong, the pilot stopped the airplane and turned the engine magneto switch to off.
Postaccident examination revealed the main landing gear had failed, allowing it to spread apart. The pilot later reported there was a fatigue failure in the landing gear truss.
Probable cause
The fatigue failure of the main landing gear (MLG) truss, which resulted in the MLG spreading apart. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.
Circumstances
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather conditions
- Visual Meteorological Cond
- Light condition
- Day
- Ceiling (ft)
- 0
- Visibility (sm)
- 10
- Wind direction
- 0
- Temperature (F)
- 90
- Nearest airport
- Cotton Patch
- Distance from field
- 0.0
- Airport elevation
- 430
Aircraft
| Registration | Make | Model | Damage | FAR part |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N22GL | Steen | Skybolt | SUBS | 091 |
Sequence of events
| # | Occurrence | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taxi-from runway Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) defining | Taxi |
| 2 | Taxi-from runway Landing gear collapse | Taxi |
Findings
| Finding | |
|---|---|
| Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Main landing gear-Failure | cause |
| Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Main landing gear-Fatigue/wear/corrosion | cause |