SHAGELUK, AK, USA
N83367
PIPER PA-18
AS THE SKI EQUIPPED AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE SNOW COVERED FROZEN RIVER, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR BROKE AT THE AXLE, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT SKI RETAINING NUT AND ITS COTTER PIN WERE MISSING. THIS ALLOWED THE SKI TO PARTIALLY SLIDE OFF THE AXLE IN FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN SABOTAGED OR VANDALIZED.
THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SKI BEING PARTIALLY DISCONNECTED AT THE TIME OF THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, AND THE SNOW COVERED LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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