Primary finding
Probable cause
The failure of the landing gear axle.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that after landing the aircraft veered off to the right, and nosed over. Investigation revealed that the right landing gear axle had failed.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 7, 1993, at about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA25 260, N4874Y was substantially damaged during a landing at a private sod airfield near Bainbridge, Georgia. The commercial pilot was not injured in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 137 by Brock Aero Plane of Bainbridge, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local aerial application flight. The flight departed the private field at 1400. The pilot stated that during the landing, the aircraft veered off to the left and nosed over. He stated that following the accident, inspection of the left wheel revealed that the axle had broken. -