Primary finding
Probable cause
The failure of the main landing gear as a result of inadequate manufacturing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The sightseeing flight was attempting a landing at the private sod airfield. During the landing attempt, the right main landing gear axle separated from the landing gear strut, and the aircraft flipped over. Metallurgical examination revealed that the axle separated in fatigue at the weld joint between the axle and the joint. Microscopic examination of the weld revealed that there were areas of the weld with multiple gas voids and slag inclusions, and that the weld had not completely penetrated at the area of the inboard side of the saddle joint.
Source record
Factual narrative
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