# Accident 19980728029949A: Gulstm 690, Ely, NV, July 28, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 28, 1998, 15:00 local time
- Place: Ely, NV
- Airport: Ely Airport - Yelland Fld
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.4201° N, 115.0003° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4201&lon=-115.0003&mi=10
- Aircraft: N349AC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N349AC-1999-11-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Commander 690 (registry code 0141720, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-690) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GULSTM 690
- Reported engine: GARRTT TPE3315
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 20,000 total, 2,200 in this make and model, 500 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98TA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98TA251) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980728029949A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACCORDING TO PILOT AND OBSERVER'S STATEMENTS, THEY WERE TAXIING OUT FOR DEPARTURE WHEN THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL CAME OFF ITS AXLE. AS THE STRUT GROUNDED ON THE TAXIWAY, THE LEFT REAR WING SPAR WAS FRACTURED AND FUSELAGE CROWN SKIN WRINKLED.  EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE LEFT WHEEL WAS SEPARATED INTO ITS TWO HALVES AND THE TIRE HAD COME OFF THE WHEEL.  ALL TEN NUTS WERE STRIPPED OFF THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE WHEEL HALVES TOGETHER.  THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE RIGHT TIRE WAS MEASURED WITH A GAGE THAT ONLY GOES TO 125 PSI; THE PRESSURE IN THE TIRE PEGGED THE GAGE AT THAT VALUE.  ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT MANUAL, THE MAXIMUM MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE PRESSURE SHOULD BE 60 PSI.                                                        (-23) ON JULY 29, 1998 AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 HRS LOCAL TIME, N349AC WAS TAXIING SOUTH ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY ENROUTE TO RUNWAY 36 FOR TAKEOFF AT ELY, NV. ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY TO THE TAXIWAY, THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL SEPARATED CAUSING THE OUTER HALF OF THE WHEEL TO BE PROPELLED ABOUT 50 YARDS TO THE LEFT OF THE AIRCRAFT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE TIRE CAME OFF AND WENT INTO THE AIRPORT INFIELD. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP IN ABOUT 20 FEET RIDING ON THE   INNER WHEEL HALF AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY. INSPECTION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL, BRAKE ASSEMBLY, TOP OF THE LEFT ENGINE COWL AND DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING REAR SPAR. NO AN 364-624 NUTS, 8 TOTAL, COULD BE FOUND AT THE SCENE. THESE ARE THE NUTS THAT CONNECT TO THE BOLTS (AN 6-40A), 8 TOTAL, THAT HOLD THE MAIN WHEEL HALVES TOGETHER. THE THREADS ON ALL THE AN 6-40A BOLTS APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN BENT OVER, AS IF THE NUTS WERE FORCED OFF WITHOUT TURNING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98TA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98TA251), Jul 28, 1998: Aero Commander 690 (N349AC), Ely, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure and separation of the left main gear wheel halves due to overload as a result of excessive air pressure. A contributing factor was the inadequate maintenance/service of the main gear…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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