Accident Overview
On April 23, 2015, at approximately 1240 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 185 equipped with wheel/skis (registration N4554F) experienced a left main landing gear leg fracture during takeoff from Nome City Field in Nome, Alaska. The airplane was operating under visual flight rules as a personal flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot, a certificated commercial pilot and the sole occupant, was not injured. The intended destination was White Mountain, Alaska, but no flight plan was filed.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that after a normal takeoff roll, just as the airplane became airborne, a loud bang was heard. The left side wheel/ski assembly then rotated upward and came to rest near the left side window. The pilot elected to return to the departure runway for an emergency landing. During the return flight, the pilot crabbed the airplane into the wind to keep the wheel/ski assembly close to the fuselage.
As the airplane touched down and settled onto the runway, the left main landing gear leg contacted the ground and collapsed. This caused the left wing to strike the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft.
Postaccident Inspection
A postaccident inspection conducted by an FAA inspector revealed that the left main landing gear leg assembly had fractured near the axle through bolts. This fracture allowed the ski to rotate upward during the takeoff roll. The fractured gear leg and related maintenance records were not made available to the National Transportation Safety Board for examination.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft, a Cessna 185, was registered to and operated by the pilot. It had been modified under Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA1907NM for the installation of Schnider Model SWS-4000 C-19 wheel skies.
Meteorological Conditions
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No specific weather details were provided in the source.