CEN23LA118

The pilot’s failure to attain/maintain lateral airplane control during landing, which resulted in an impact with the runway surface.

The pilot stated that the landing touchdown was uneventful but that during landing rollout the airplane lurched to the left, rolled inverted, and came to rest on the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane’s left wing strut failed at its midpoint. Airport surveillance video showed that during landing the airplane’s right wing moved upward and the left wing descended and contacted the runway. The airplane then nosed over onto the runway and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the left wing strut revealed that it had failed in overload from having contacted the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

On February 19, 2023, at 1330 central standard time, a Luscombe 8E, N2722K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Houston, Texas. The commercial pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that the landing touchdown was uneventful. During landing rollout and about 1,630 ft down the runway, the airplane “lurched to the left,” rolled inverted, and came to rest on the runway. The pilot stated that the left wing strut failed at its midpoint. Airport surveillance video showed that during landing the airplane’s right wing moved upward and the left wing descended and contacted the runway. The airplane then nosed over onto the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it was equipped with heel brakes. Examination of the brake system and flight control system revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The examination of the left wing strut revealed that it had failed in overload. The airplane sustained substantial damage that included damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and left wing strut.