Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control, causing the design stress limits of the airplane to be exceeded. Excessive sideloads incurred caused the right main landing gear wheel and strut to fail.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot said he made a "smooth wheel landing" on runway 33. Touchdown speed was 80 mph. After the tail wheel settled to the ground, the pilot applied brakes and the airplane started veering to the left. The pilot attempted corrective action, but the airplane started to ground loop. The pilot said side loads on the right main gear caused the wheel to break off. The gear strut dug into the ground and it, too, broke off. The leading edge of the left wing was crushed from the tip to the root, both elevators were bent, and the firewall was wrinkled. The weather was clear and the winds were calm.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 23, 2008, approximately 0815 central daylight time, a Cessna 195, N4426C, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when the right main landing gear collapsed during landing at the West Houston Airport (IWS), Houston, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The cross-country flight originated at Fredericksburg (T82), Texas, approximately 0645, and was en route to Houston. According to the pilot's accident report, he made a "smooth wheel landing" on runway 33. Touchdown speed was 80 mph. After the tail wheel settled to the ground, the pilot applied brakes and the airplane started veering to the left. The pilot attempted corrective action, but the airplane started to ground loop. The pilot said side loads on the right main gear caused the wheel to break off. The gear strut dug into the ground and it, too, broke off. According to an FAA inspector who went to the accident site, the right main wheel was still attached to the landing gear strut. The leading edge of the left wing was crushed from the tip to the root, both elevators were bent, and the firewall was wrinkled. There was no evidence of pre-existing failure or malfunction of the airplane or flight controls. The weather was clear and the winds were calm.