20010520011149A

(.19)On may 20, 2001, about 1220 hours pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N86727, sustained substantial damage when the left main landing gear axle fractured and collapsed on landing at the Stead airport, Reno, Nevada. Aero ways, inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The personal cross-country flight departed susanville, California, about 1145. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated he departed Stead earlier that morning to drop off a passenger at susanville. The airplane was difficult to land, but he could not detect a specific problem. On the return to Stead, the gear collapsed during the landing roll and the airplane ground looped. The gearbox sustained substantial damage. The federal aviation administration accident coordinator examined the airplane and noted the fracture was in the vicinity of a weld. (-23) the aircrart was operated on a pleasure flight from 4SD to sve on the day prior to the accident. During landing at sve the pilot noticed unstable rollout. Thinking perhaps it was his technique, the pilot gave the matte r no further thought. During departure from sve the pilot experienced a noticeable pull to the right. Upon landing at 4SD the pilot experienced a slight hop on initial touch down followed by an unstable rollout. Subsequently, control of the aircraft was lost when the left main landing gear axle failed and separated from the aircraft. The axle was sent to American champion aircraft corporation (Bellanca) for evaluation. (.4) the left main landing gear axle fractured and collapsed during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and substantial damage to the gearbox. The axle fractured in the vicinity of a weld. An entry in the airplane's logbook indicated that the airplane had sustained a hard landing about 15 years prior to this accident. The entry stated that maintenance technicians inspected the axle using the dye penetrate method. No logbook entry noted that the axle had been changed. The manufacturer's representative inspected the axle and reported that several items did not conform to the type design. The manufacturer's representative concluded that the axle had been cracked and rewelded, and the weld did not conform to specifications. The we ld at the base plate had a larger radius than specified, which resulted in a flat surface that was insufficient to allow proper seating of the heads of the bolts that mounted the wheel to the axle. The manufacturer's representative felt the axle failed in the weld heat affected zone due to improper repair.