Accident Details
On August 17, 2011, at approximately 1745 central daylight time, a Suminski Jabiru SP airplane, registered as N284E, was substantially damaged during a runway excursion on landing at Sackman Field Airport (H49) in Columbia, Illinois. The experimental amateur-built aircraft was operated by the pilot, who was conducting an instructional flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight had departed H49 at about 1630.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that he was conducting proficiency work with a flight instructor at the time of the accident. During the third landing of the flight, after rolling out approximately 500 feet, the airplane veered to the right and departed the runway. It subsequently encountered a berm and came to rest in an adjacent corn field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Neither the pilot nor the flight instructor was injured.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination revealed that the right main landing gear wheel had separated from the airplane. Further inspection identified that the components retaining the main wheel—the Extension Stub Axle and a 3/16-inch bolt—had separated from the axle. These components were not recovered. A visual examination of the bolt attachment hole on the landing gear strut axle did not reveal any damage.