What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot reported to investigators a thumping type noise on approch to ewn. Upon landing he notice the left wing was dropping and considered it to be a flat tire. He reported that at one point something else must be wrong as the left wing was dropping lower than normal. The left lower landing gear leg piston (which includes the axle, wheel and brake assembly) had departed the aircraft. The upper and lower torque links were attached to the aircraft. No evidence of a bolt in the lower torque link was discovered. An improperly or absence of a cotter key can cause the bolt to exit the aircraft over time. This can allow the lower landing gear leg/piston to exit the aircraft. The aircraft landed on the upper left gear strut and slid to a stop without any other damage.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT REPORTED TO INVESTIGATORS A THUMPING TYPE NOISE ON APPROCH TO EWN. UPON LANDING HE NOTICE THE LEFT WING WAS DROPPING AND CONSIDERED IT TO BE A FLAT TIRE. HE REPORTED THAT AT ONE POINT SOMETHING ELSE MUST BE WRONG AS THE LEFT WING WAS DROPPING LOWER THAN NORMAL. THE LEFT LOWER LANDING GEAR LEG PISTON (WHICH INCLUDES THE AXLE, WHEEL AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY) HAD DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT. THE UPPER AND LOWER TORQUE LINKS WERE ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT. NO EVIDENCE OF A BOLT IN THE LOWER TORQUE LINK WAS DISCOVERED. AN IMPROPERLY OR ABSENCE OF A COTTER KEY CAN CAUSE THE BOLT TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT OVER TIME. THIS CAN ALLOW THE LOWER LANDING GEAR LEG/PISTON TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON THE UPPER LEFT GEAR STRUT AND SLID TO A STOP WITHOUT ANY OTHER DAMAGE.
Other reports on N1963J · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.