MONTAGUE, CA, USA
N592C
STINSON 108-3
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL DISINTEGRATED JUST AFTER TOUCHDOWN AND HE COULD NOT PREVENT THE AIRCRAFT FROM VEERING OFF THE RUNWAY. AS THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE GRASSY DIRT AREA NEXT TO THE RUNWAY, THE LEFT AXLE DUG INTO THE SOIL AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS AN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ITEM ON THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1948 AND HAS ACCRUED A TOTAL TIME IN SERVICE OF 1,407 HOURS. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD REMOVED AND INSPECTED THE WHEEL THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND THAT IT APPEARED NORMAL. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE WHEEL PIECES BY THE PILOT REVEALED EVIDENCE OF A SMALL FAIRLY RECENT CRACK IN THE WHEEL CASTING NEAR THE AXLE. THE PILOT FURTHER SAID THE CRACK WAS IN THE INSIDE PART OF THE WHEEL AND UNDER THE TIRE WHERE IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN OBSERVED UNLESS THE WHEEL HAD BEEN COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLED.
THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE LEFT WHEEL DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT AND THE RESULTANT INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT NATURE OF THE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED BY THE AIRCRAFT AFTER LEAVING THE RUNWAY SURFACE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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