On September 11, 1994, a Beech B19 (registration N19NH) operated by Ram Air Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Big Bear City, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the failure and separation of the right main landing gear wheel assembly due to a preexisting and undetected crack. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported a normal landing, but during rollout the right main landing gear separated. The aircraft skidded off the runway into grass and sustained substantial damage. Inspection found a pre-existing crack in the failed gear component.
Incident Overview
The pilot involved in the event reported that she executed a normal landing on the runway. As the aircraft proceeded through its landing rollout, the right main landing gear detached from the aircraft. Following the separation, the aircraft skidded off the runway and came to rest in a grassy area. The aircraft was substantially damaged as a result of the event.
Inspection Findings
An inspection of the failed lower section of the right main landing gear assembly was conducted by a coordinator from the Federal Aviation Administration. The inspection revealed the presence of a previous crack in that component. According to the coordinator, this crack could not have been identified during a preflight inspection.