What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot stated that on landing the aircraft veered off the runway, skid about 300 feet and hit a tree. Further examination revealed that the left main wheel and axle had departed the aircraft on landing. During the investigation it was determined that the left main wheel had departed the aircraft on touchdown. The aluminum casting that attaches to the landing gear leg had failed. The casting part number LG93 was manufactured by the bd micro aircraft corporation. The manufacturing date was 1985. There was no evidence that the part had any previous damage or cracks. No injuries. (.19) on April 17, 2002, at 1145 central daylight time, a greg grouleff BD-5B, experimental airplane, N727BD, registered to, owned, and operated by the commercial pilot, veered off the runway into trees during landing roll at Bessemer Airport in Bessemer, Alabama. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of title 14 CFR part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local flight departed Bessemer, Alabama, at 1115. According to the pilot, a normal approach was executed to runway 5 at 125 to 130 knots. The pilot stated a light crosswind condition was present, and he executed a touchdown on the left main first. The pilot stated the left main gear then collapsed, and the airplane veered to the left off the runway at high speed into trees. Initial examination of the airplane revealed the left main gear was collapsed, and both wings displayed impact damage. The left main wheel assembly and axle have not been located.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT STATED THAT ON LANDING THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY, SKID ABOUT 300 FEET AND HIT A TREE. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL AND AXLE HAD DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT ON LANDING. DURING THE INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL HAD DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT ON TOUCHDOWN. THE ALUMINUM CASTING THAT ATTACHES TO THE LANDING GEAR LEG HAD FAILED. THE CASTING PART NUMBER LG93 WAS MANUFACTURED BY THE BD MICRO AIRCRAFT CORPORATION. THE MANUFACTURING DATE WAS 1985. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE PART HAD ANY PREVIOUS DAMAGE OR CRACKS. NO INJURIES. (.19) ON APRIL 17, 2002, AT 1145 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A GREG GROULEFF BD-5B, EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE, N727BD, REGISTERED TO, OWNED, AND OPERATED BY THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO TREES DURING LANDING ROLL AT BESSEMER AIRPORT IN BESSEMER, ALABAMA. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED, AND THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED BESSEMER, ALABAMA, AT 1115. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, A NORMAL APPROACH WAS EXECUTED TO RUNWAY 5 AT 125 TO 130 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED A LIGHT CROSSWIND CONDITION WAS PRESENT, AND HE EXECUTED A TOUCHDOWN ON THE LEFT MAIN FIRST. THE PILOT STATED THE LEFT MAIN GEAR THEN COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY AT HIGH SPEED INTO TREES. INITIAL EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE LEFT MAIN GEAR WAS COLLAPSED, AND BOTH WINGS DISPLAYED IMPACT DAMAGE. THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND AXLE HAVE NOT BEEN LOCATED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.