What happened
The pilot reported that the aircraft began to bounce immediately after touching down on the runway. In an attempt to control the aircraft's direction during this unstable phase of landing, the pilot applied right brake pressure. Approximately 150 to 200 feet past the point of initial contact with the ground, the right main wheel separated from its gear leg. On the subsequent bounce, the compromised gear leg folded inward beneath the fuselage, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe.
The investigation
A review of the aircraft's configuration revealed that it was equipped with Gar Aero 6-inch to 10-inch wheel adapters. These adapters were installed on the landing gear system at the time of the incident. The separation of the right main wheel and the subsequent folding of the gear leg occurred during the high-energy phase of the landing rollout.
Findings
The sequence of events indicates that the structural integrity of the right main landing gear was compromised during the bounce. The use of wheel adapters on the aircraft may have influenced the load distribution or alignment of the gear components during the impact. The pilot's application of brakes during the bounce likely exacerbated the stress on the already failing gear assembly, leading to the complete detachment of the wheel and the collapse of the gear leg.