Primary finding
Probable cause
The partial collapse of the right main landing gear during landing due to an improper previous weld repair to the right main landing gear and subsequent corrosion, which resulted in a loss of directional control and impact with terrain.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During landing, the right main landing gear hit a pothole on the runway and partially collapsed, which resulted in the pilot's loss of directional control. The pilot's efforts to regain directional control were unsuccessful, and the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright in a ditch on the right side of the runway. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination revealed undocumented, improper previous weld repairs to the right main landing gear, which led to undetected corrosion in that area.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 28, 2013, at 1210 central daylight time, N455JM, an Ayres Corporation S2R-T34 single engine turbo propeller airplane impacted terrain during landing at Blackfish Airstrip, Heth, Arkansas. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to Humphrey B Flying, LLC; Terre Haute, Indiana, and was operated by Hutcherson Flying, Inc.; Forrest City, Arkansas. Day visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight. The pilot stated that during landing his right main landing gear hit a pothole on the runway and directional control was lost when the right main landing gear partially collapsed. The pilot's efforts to correct the veer were unsuccessful and the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright in a ditch on the right side of the runway. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination disclosed undetected corrosion in area of previous weld repairs to the right main landing gear.