Incident Details
The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the left wing unexpectedly rose. He applied left rudder and aileron to counter the movement; however, the aircraft began turning to the right and did not respond to his inputs. He then reduced power and applied the brakes. Subsequently, the left wheel came off, and the left strut dug into the runway, causing the aircraft to turn left through 180 degrees.
Examination Findings
Post-incident examination of the aircraft revealed that the left spring steel landing gear strut and the gear box had separated from the airframe. The propeller had struck the runway, and the left wing sustained damage. The wheel assembly, which is attached to the landing gear strut with three bolts, was found approximately 75 yards down the runway from the point of separation.
Inspection of the three bolts that secured the wheel assembly to the strut showed: one bolt had no nut and exhibited no damage; one bolt had stripped threads; and one bolt had failed in tension, described as "pulled until it broke."
Probable Cause
No probable cause was stated in the source.