# Accident 20240827012619A: Hobbs Greg H ESQUAL VM-1, Oshkosh, WI, August 27, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 27, 2024, 17:45 local time
- Place: Oshkosh, WI
- Airport: Oshkosh Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.9844° N, 88.5570° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9844&lon=-88.5570&mi=10
- Aircraft: N151GH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N151GH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hobbs Greg H ESQUAL VM-1 (registry code 05618R0, https://openairdocs.org/model/hobbs-greg-h-esqual-vm-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HOBBS GREG H ESQUAL VM-1
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912 UL
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 229 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA330](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA330) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240827012619A

## Narrative

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

THIS AIRCRAFT WAS PURCHASED ON JULY 6TH 2024.

THE PILOTS WERE DOING MULTIPLE T/O AND LANDINGS, STAYING IN THE PATTERN. THEY CAME IN AND DID A TOUCH AND GO. THE PILOT ROTATED EARLY, THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT LOST THE LEFT TIRE. THE TAKEOFF WAS CONTINUED. THEY RETURNED FOR A LANDING WITH ONLY THE GEAR SUPPORT AND BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLE. AXLE AND TIRE WERE MISSING. AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. PHOTOS SHOW DAMAGE TO THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER LEADING EDGE AND ATTACHMENT POINT ON THE FUSELAGE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE TIRE HITTING IT. THE AXLE ACTUALLY BROKE. THE AXLE IS MADE OF ALUMINUM IT MAY HAVE BEEN BROKEN PART WAY THRU PRIOR.

LOG BOOK RESEARCH WAS COMPLETED. THE FACT THAT THE LEFT TIRE WAS WARN IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE TOE OUT MADE THE LEFT LANDING GEAR IN SUSPECT.  IT WAS CHECK AND REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE LANDING GEAR LEG WOULD MOVE LEFT AND RIGHT 1/8 INCH AND FORWARD AND BACK 3/8 OF A INCH, ALONG WITH THE ABILITY TO TURN A FEW DEGREES. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR LEG WAS REMOVED, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE BOLTS THAT HELD IT IN WERE NOT THE CORRECT SIZE. THE LENGTH OF THE SHOULDER WAS TOO SHORT AND THE BOLT ITSELF WAS THE WRONG DIAMETER. THIS CREATED A LARGE AMOUNT OF PLAY OR MOVEMENT IN THE LEG. THE HOLES WERE DRILLED AFTER THE GEAR CRADLE WAS INSTALLED INSTEAD OF BEFORE THE GEAR WAS INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT. THIS CREATED TWO INCORRECTLY DRILLED HOLES AT INCORRECT ANGLES. THE GEAR WAS ALSO INSTALLED IN A TOE OUT ANGLE THAT CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE LEFT TIRE AND ALSO WEAR ON THE RIGHT. THIS TOE OUT AND POOR INSTALLATION CAUSED A SHIMMY AND ALSO INCREASES THE ANGULAR LOAD ON THE AXLE INCREASED DRAG AND TIRE WEAR. THESE FORCES OVER TIME STARTED A CRACK IN THE AXLE AND EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF THE AXLE AND THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 CEN24LA330](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA330), Aug 27, 2024: Esqual VM1 (N151GH), Oshkosh, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s premature rotation during takeoff which resulted in the airplane settling back to the runway and the subsequent separation of the left wheel.

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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