Primary finding
Probable cause
A separation of the left main landing gear wheel assembly during landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was landing the airplane on a turf runway and stated that the landing approach was nominal. The pilot described that the “…airspeed, landing spot, and flare were perfect.” Upon touchdown, the right main landing gear’s wheel assembly separated from the landing gear strut. The strut subsequently dug into the ground and the airplane’s fuselage was substantially damaged. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane after the accident reported that the landing gear strut had fractured about 5 inches inboard of from the wheel assembly.