On 28 Sep 2009, a CESSNA 195 operated by SWANN NEAL P was involved in an aviation accident near Kingman, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the right landing gear wheel attachment bolts. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported a ground loop following a landing gear failure. Examination revealed a separated wheel and non-compliant bolts, with one fractured and two stripped.
Event Description
The pilot reported that 1-2 seconds after landing on runway 21, a 'bang' was heard, followed by the right wing dropping and the airplane ground looping to the right. The event resulted in substantial damage to the wing and fuselage.
Examination Findings
Upon inspection of the right landing gear strut, the pilot observed that the right wheel had separated from the strut leg. Examination of the bolts that attached the wheel to the strut revealed that one bolt had fractured, and the other two were stripped of their respective nuts.
Maintenance Compliance
The pilot stated that the bolts installed on the wheel were not in compliance with a recent service bulletin that recommended a higher tensile strength bolt.