What happened
During the final phase of a landing maneuver, the aircraft experienced two distinct bounces upon touchdown while a student pilot was operating the controls. Following the second bounce, the airplane began to deviate toward the left side of the runway. The certified flight instructor (CFI), who was monitoring the situation, attempted to regain directional control but was unsuccessful in preventing the deviation.
As the aircraft continued to skid off the left edge of the paved surface, the right main landing gear assembly separated from the airframe. The separation occurred during the uncontrolled ground excursion, resulting in significant damage to the undercarriage structure.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed critical mechanical conditions that contributed to the failure. Analysis of the fractured area on the main landing gear indicated that the component failed due to overstress rather than pre-existing material defects.
Further inspection of the wheel assemblies showed that the wheels were toed in excessively, a condition that can affect handling characteristics during ground operations. Additionally, the tire treads were found to be severely worn, reducing traction and potentially exacerbating the directional instability during the bounce.