Accident
A certificated experimental exhibition category bi-plane experienced a landing gear failure while landing on a private turf runway. During the landing rollout, the left main landing gear axle fractured, leading to the departure of the left landing gear wheel assembly from the airframe. The airplane veered to the left as the remaining portion of the left landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the propeller and the lower left and right wings contacted the runway surface, resulting in substantial damage to those components.
Aircraft Information
The bi-plane was manufactured in 1961. It had accumulated approximately 760 total flight hours since new and had operated for about 7 hours since its most recent condition inspection, which was performed about 11 months prior to the accident.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed a crack that had propagated through a manufacturer welded area near the wheel assembly. A search of the Federal Aviation Administration service difficulty reports database for the accident airplane make and model did not reveal any previous similar landing gear failures.