Accident Sequence
The pilot was cleared for landing and completed the approach check with all parameters normal. The airplane crossed the landing threshold and settled onto the runway in a three-point landing attitude. During the landing roll, the pilot felt the left wing begin to dip and the airplane vibrating. The airplane then turned approximately 20 degrees to the right, causing the left front side to strike the runway before the airplane came to a stop.
Aircraft and Landing Gear History
The pilot had completed a series of touch-and-go landings prior to the accident landing. During this landing, the leaf spring landing gear assembly broke. Examination of the failed component revealed that the leaf spring gear strut fracture originated from an area of fatigue cracking. This fatigue crack initiated at the upper forward side of the inboard hole for the step attachment bolts. Given the observed corrosion present in the bolt hole, it was determined that the fatigue originated from corrosion pitting. For fatigue to initiate at the upper side of the spring strut, that side must have been placed in tension.
Maintenance and Time Information
According to the aircraft maintenance logbook, the airplane was built in 1946. The total airframe time, including the leaf spring gear assembly, was 3,375 hours at the time of the accident.