On July 12, 1997, a Cessna 140 (registration N4275N) was involved in an aviation accident near Arlington, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the right-main landing gear axle after landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A tailwheel aircraft sustained substantial damage during landing when the right main wheel separated from its strut, causing the strut to dig into turf and resulting in a nose-over.
Incident Overview
A tailwheel-equipped airplane experienced a nose-over during the landing roll after the right-main wheel separated from its associated strut. The aircraft sustained substantial damage in the event.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that he touched down on the main wheels on the sod runway. The aircraft bounced once, then "seemed to settle into a normal run-out." According to the pilot, "a second or two later" he felt a heavy yaw to the right as the right landing gear dug into the turf.
Mechanical Findings
Examination revealed that the landing-gear axle had failed. The landing-gear strut subsequently dug into the turf, causing the aircraft to nose over.