Primary finding
Probable cause
A failure of the right main landing gear leg for reasons that could not be determined.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that, during the landing roll on a remote, gravel-covered beach, the right main landing gear leg broke just above the wheel axle. The remaining gear leg dug into the frozen gravel and folded under the fuselage, and the airplane veered right, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing. A postaccident examination by the pilot revealed that the right main landing gear leg fractured a few inches above the axle. The fractured landing gear leg was ground into the gravel-covered surface before the main landing gear leg folded aft, which obliterated the fracture surface. The separated right wheel assembly traveled into the lake and was not recovered; therefore, the failure mode of the landing gear leg could not be determined. The pilot stated that the main landing gear legs were last inspected for cracks about 15 years before the accident.
Source record
Factual narrative
On November 29, 2024, at 1305 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 180 airplane, N9140R, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Egegik, Alaska. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, during the landing roll on a remote, gravel-covered beach, the right main landing gear leg broke just above the wheel axle. The remaining gear leg dug into the frozen gravel and folded under the fuselage. The airplane veered right and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing. A postaccident examination by the pilot revealed that the right main landing gear leg fractured a few inches above the axle. The fractured landing gear leg was ground into the gravel-covered surface before the main landing gear leg folded aft, which obliterated the fracture surface. The separated right wheel assembly traveled into the lake and was not recovered. The main landing gear legs were last inspected for cracks about 15 years before the accident.