What happened
Immediately following touchdown, the left main wheel of the aircraft disintegrated. This failure caused the pilot to lose directional control, leading the aircraft to veer off the runway. As the aircraft transitioned onto the grassy, dirt area adjacent to the runway, the left axle dug into the soil, resulting in a nose-over.
The investigation
The aircraft involved was an original equipment manufacturer item produced in 194SB, having accumulated a total of 1,407 hours in service. The pilot had performed an inspection of the wheel assembly the day before the accident and reported that it appeared normal at that time.
Post-accident examination of the recovered wheel components revealed a small, relatively recent crack located in the wheel casting near the axle. This crack was situated on the interior side of the wheel, positioned underneath the tire. Consequently, the defect would not have been detectable during a standard inspection unless the wheel had undergone complete disassembly.