Left Main Gear Collapse During Taxi on Frozen Seaplane Strip

Casualties unknown • Anchorage, AK, US

A private pilot's ski-equipped tailwheel aircraft sustained structural damage after the left main landing gear ski dug into snow during a turn.

What happened

The incident occurred when a private pilot landed his ski-equipped tailwheel airplane on a frozen seaplane airstrip. After completing the landing, the pilot began to taxi toward the designated parking area. As he initiated a right turn from the landing site, the left main landing gear ski dug into the snow surface. This interaction caused the left main landing gear to collapse. The collapse resulted in structural damage to the fuselage adjacent to the main landing gear attachment cluster.

The investigation

The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. No further mechanical examination details are provided in the source text.

Findings

The primary factor was the left main landing gear ski digging into the snow during a turn on a frozen surface, leading to gear collapse and subsequent structural damage to the fuselage near the attachment cluster.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2005-02-27 Piper PA-22 accident near Anchorage, AK?

A private pilot's ski-equipped tailwheel aircraft sustained structural damage after the left main landing gear ski dug into snow during a turn.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2005-02-27 involved a Piper PA-22, registration N6174D, at Anchorage, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's excessive taxi speed during a turn while taxiing from landing, which resulted in the collapse of the left main landing gear, and structural damage to the fuselage.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20050404X00399. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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