Incident Details
On July 14, 2018, at approximately 1400 central daylight time, a Leake Steen Skybolt biplane, registration N22GL, was substantially damaged when the main landing gear failed while taxiing from landing at Cotton Patch Airport (TA75), Lexington, Texas. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 for personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight had originated from TA75 about 1300.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, he flew to Taylor, Texas, to refuel his airplane. He then flew back to TA75 and landed. While taxiing to the hangar, the bottom of the airplane's fuselage began to drag on the ground. Realizing that something was wrong, the pilot stopped the airplane and turned the engine magneto switch to off.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination revealed that the main landing gear had failed, allowing it to spread apart. The pilot later reported that there was a fatigue failure in the landing gear truss.