Scottsdale Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Saturday, April 26, 2003 11:45 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The tailwheel equipped airplane had a gear failure while attempting a wheel landing. After a normal touchdown, the airplane lurched to the left and the right main landing gear wheel departed the airplane. The right main landing gear strut folded under the fuselage and the right wing tip contacted the runway surface. The airplane came to rest on its right side. The pilot thought that an "abrupt left brake grab" placed a side load on the right gear, which resulted in the failure of the right main landing gear wheel. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintenance inspector stated that the forward, upper bolt connecting the axle to the backing plate had sheered off. The other three bolts had twisted off, separating the wheel from the airplane, which he believed occurred after the initial bolt had failed. He thought it was possible that the bolts installed were the original bolts that the airplane was outfitted with in 1957. He believed there was a significant possibility that the sheered bolt had failed due to its age and extended use.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of a main landing gear axle bolt, and the subsequent separation of the right main landing gear wheel from the gear strut during the landing roll, which resulted in a collapse of the right main landing gear.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/26/2003
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Scottsdale
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85260
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 333722N
Event Location Longitude 1115438W
Event Location Airport Scottsdale
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SDL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1510
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID KSDL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1510
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) 3080
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16928
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 26 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2004 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO-Scottsdale, AZ

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9759B
NTSB Number LAX03LA143
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 180A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 50057
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 15 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 37
Airframe Hours 4126
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Donald Lindholm
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Phoenix
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85058
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KSDL
Departure City Scottsdale
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code KSDL
Destination City Scottsdale
Destination State AZ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2004 6:26PM
User who most recently changed record LABJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 8249
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --