On September 13, 1995, a Cessna 140 (registration N76919) was involved in an aviation accident near Boyne Falls, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to continue the landing after ballooning, which resulted in a hard second touchdown and subsequent sideload failure of the landing gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported that after ballooning on initial touchdown and applying power for a second attempt, a thump was heard as the aircraft veered off the runway due to landing gear failure.
What happened
The pilot reported that the airplane experienced a balloon during the initial touchdown phase of the landing. To correct the situation, the pilot applied additional power, which resulted in a second touchdown on the runway surface. Immediately following this second impact, a distinct thumping noise was audible from the aircraft. Subsequently, the airplane departed the right side of the runway.
The investigation
A physical inspection of the airframe and landing gear assembly was conducted to determine the extent of the damage. The examination revealed that the landing gear had suffered a sideload failure. This structural compromise was consistent with the forces generated during the hard second touchdown.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to continue the landing after ballooning, which resulted in a hard second touchdown and subsequent sideload failure of the landing gear.
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