What happened
The pilot was performing a landing on a gravel airstrip measuring 1,200 feet in length and 100 feet in width. Immediately upon touchdown, the left landing gear leg dug into the ground, causing the airplane to nose over. Following the impact, the left wheel assembly was found 200 feet away from the main wreckage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the left landing gear strut and found it was missing its lower four inches, having fractured at the bolt holes for the main landing gear axle attachment. An inspection of the fractured section of the gear leg was conducted at the NTSB materials laboratory on August 16, 2000.
Analysis of the metal revealed that fatigue cracks originated from corrosion pits located at the four corners of the fractured bolt holes. Additionally, significant amounts of oxidation and corrosion pitting were observed on the surface of the gear leg near where the cracks began. The pilot noted that the aircraft had been equipped with wheel-ski assemblies until one month before the accident.