On August 3, 1997, a Champion 7ECA (registration N4178Y) operated by Fort Meade Flying Activity was involved in an aviation accident near Easton, MD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: an inadequate weld repair, which resulted in insufficient structural strength of the left main gear. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a three-point landing, the airplane swerved left then right, the left wing struck the runway, and the left main landing gear collapsed. An FAA inspector found the gear failed at a corroded weld with no record in the logbooks.
Landing Sequence
The pilot reported making a three-point landing with no bounce. Immediately after touchdown, the airplane swerved to the left. The pilot applied corrective inputs, and the airplane then began to swerve to the right in a tightening circle. During this swerve, the left wing scraped the runway surface, and the left main landing gear collapsed under the fuselage.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector examined the failed landing gear and reported that the gear failed at a weld. Corrosion was visible on a portion of the face of the fracture surface. Further investigation revealed no record of the weld in the airplane's logbooks.
Findings
The landing gear collapse resulted from a failure at a weld point, with evidence of corrosion at the fracture. The absence of any documentation for the weld in the maintenance logs was noted.