On September 30, 1997, a Cessna 170A (registration N10433) was involved in an aviation accident near Oklahoma City, OK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions resulting in an inadvertent groundloop. Factors were the crosswind, the pilot's lack of total experience in make and model, the separation of the left main wheel due to corroded bolts, and the… This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a landing roll in a right crosswind, a tailwheel airplane veered right and ground looped, with the left main wheel and axle separating after a hard shimmy. An FAA inspection found stripped bolts and evidence of neglect.
Accident Description
During the landing roll of a tailwheel airplane in a right crosswind, the aircraft had slowed to approximately 25 miles per hour when it began to veer to the right. This led to a ground loop, during which a hard shimmy and vibration were felt. The airplane turned 110 degrees from its original heading, and at that point the left main wheel and axle separated from the airframe. The pilot had a total of one hour of flight experience in the specific make and model of the aircraft.
Inspection Findings
Following the incident, an FAA airworthiness inspector conducted an examination. The inspector found that the threads from the top two nuts and one lower nut securing the axle to the landing gear were stripped from their bolts. The last annual inspection of the aircraft had been performed on September 1, 1997. The inspector noted that the aircraft appeared to be in a generally neglected condition, citing specific examples such as worn door hinges, poorly operating door latches, fogged instrument glass, and corrosion easily visible on the airframe. The aircraft's maintenance records were not provided to the Safety Board for review.
Probable Cause
No probable cause was stated in the available information.