PHOENIX, AZ, USA
N195JB
CESSNA 195
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER A LOCAL FLIGHT HE RETURNED FOR A FULL-STOP LANDING. DURING THE ROLLOUT THE AIRCRAFT YAWED SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT, WHICH WAS CORRECTED WITH RIGHT RUDDER. THE AIRCRAFT THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT, EXITED THE RUNWAY, AND GROUND LOOPED IN THE ADJOINING DIRT. THE PILOT SAID HE COULD NOT CORRECT THE RIGHT TURN WITH RUDDER OR BRAKE APPLICATION. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY A FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MAIN STRUT FAILED JUST ABOVE THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE FRACTURE FACE WAS 'HEAVILY DISCOLORED AND HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN THERE A VERY LONG TIME.'
On January 22, 1995, at 1330 mountain standard time, a Cessna 195, N195JB, ground looped following separation of the left main wheel during the landing ground roll at the Deer Valley airport, Phoenix, Arizona. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was on a local personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and the one passenger onboard were not injured. The flight originated at the Deer Valley airport on the day of the accident at 1230 hours. The pilot reported that after a local flight he returned and landed on runway 7 right. During the rollout the aircraft yawed slightly to the left, which was corrected with right rudder. The aircraft then veered to the right, exited the runway, and ground looped in the adjoining dirt. The pilot said he could not correct the right turn with rudder or brake application. Subsequent inspection of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector revealed that the left main strut failed just above the wheel assembly. The inspector reported that the fracture face was "heavily discolored and had obviously been there a very long time."
the failure of the left main strut due to a pre-existing crack.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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