Primary finding
Probable cause
The failure of the main landing gear attach point.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that after liftoff he heard a "thump" and someone on the ground radioed him saying that his right landing gear looked "crooked." The pilot stated that because his aircraft battery was low he could not transmit over the radio. He decided to make an off-airport landing in a field instead of trying to land at the busy airport that he had just departed. The right main landing gear collapsed during the landing and the airplane nosed over. Inspection of the airplane revealed the right main landing gear oleo strut attachment fitting failed, allowing the landing gear to collapse. The last annual inspection on the airplane was dated August 7, 2000. The pilot reported that an annual inspection may have detected the failure.
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 5, 2009, at 1315 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 11AC, N3383E, nosed over while landing in a grass field in Marshall, Michigan, following a failure of the right main landing gear during the previous takeoff. The pilot was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage to the right wing and rudder. The personal flight was being conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The flight originated from the Brooks Airport (RMY), Marshall, Michigan, at 1300. The pilot reported that after liftoff he heard a "thump" and someone on the ground radioed him saying that his right landing gear looked "crooked." The pilot stated that because his aircraft battery was low he could not transmit over the radio. He decided to make an off airport landing in a field instead of trying to land at the busy airport which he just departed. The right main landing gear collapsed during the landing and the airplane nosed over. Inspection of the airplane revealed the right main landing gear oleo strut attachment fitting failed allowing the landing gear to collapse. The last annual inspection on the airplane was dated August 7, 2000. The pilot reported that an annual inspection may have detected the failure.