What happened
On 20 September 1998, an Aeronca Chief 65CA, registration N33884, was being taxied from its parking position toward the threshold of Runway 05 at Sandown Airport, Isle of Wight. The flight was intended to be a private trip to Branscombe, Devon. After communicating with Sandown Radio, the pilot began a right-hand turn to align the aircraft with the runway centerline to await takeoff clearance.
During this maneuver, the aircraft traversed uneven terrain. The pilot reported hearing a loud bang, after which the aircraft's left side descended. Following the incident, the pilot shut down the engine and fuel supply, and both the pilot and the passenger safely exited the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's landing gear assembly to determine the cause of the sudden descent. The inspection revealed that a hinge bolt within the left main landing gear had suffered a failure due to overload. The investigation considered the environmental conditions of the taxi route, specifically the presence of bumpy ground, and how the aircraft's movement interacted with the gear assembly during the turn.
Findings
- The failure of the left main landing gear was caused by the overload failure of a hinge bolt.
- The increased stress on the left gear was likely a result of the right-hand turn combined with the left wheel striking a hole in the uneven taxiway surface.