On May 17, 1990, a Cessna 170B (registration N2300D) was involved in an aviation accident near Haines, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the right main landing gear axle during a swerve after touchdown in gusty crosswind conditions. The pilot's reported fatigue may have been a contributing factor to the loss of directional control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Aircraft swerved left after touchdown in gusty crosswinds, leading to right axle failure and wing impact. The pilot reported fatigue from a long day of travel.
What happened
During the landing phase, the aircraft encountered gusting crosswind conditions. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane swerved sharply to the left. This directional instability resulted in a structural failure of the right main landing gear axle. The right gear subsequently collapsed, causing the right wing to strike the ground at the edge of the runway.
The investigation
Post-accident examination confirmed that the right axle failed during the event. The sequence of events indicates that the swerve placed excessive stress on the right side of the landing gear assembly, leading directly to the collapse and subsequent wing impact.
Findings
The pilot reported experiencing fatigue due to a long day of travel and activity prior to the flight. While weather conditions included gusting crosswinds which contributed to the directional control difficulty during touchdown, the mechanical failure of the right axle was the primary factor in the extent of the damage.
Probable cause
The failure of the right main landing gear axle during a swerve after touchdown in gusty crosswind conditions. The pilot's reported fatigue may have been a contributing factor to the loss of directional control.