What happened
During a personal flight operating under Title 14, CFR Part 91, a pilot was attempting to land a wheel-equipped airplane on a private, gravel-covered airstrip. The pilot was landing toward the east and noted the need for a correction due to a slight right crosswind. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced slightly before settling onto the right main tire and subsequently the left main tire. Immediately after the left main tire made contact with the ground, the airplane veered sharply to the left. This maneuver caused the left wing to strike an area containing low brush and trees.
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the left wing of the aircraft. The pilot and occupants were not injured.
The investigation
A post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the lower portion of the left main landing gear strut had fractured. Additionally, the left main tire, wheel, and axle were missing from the aircraft; a search for the missing wheel assembly was unsuccessful. While the upper portion of the left main landing gear strut remained attached to the airplane, the fracture origin site on the aluminum alloy adapter (P/N: 7838-002) was obliterated upon contact with the ground. This destruction prevented any further metallurgical examination of the component.