ANC01LA116

The commercial certificated pilot was landing at a remote airstrip. When the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear strut collapsed. The propeller struck the ground, and the leading edge of the right wing struck a large rock. The pilot activated the airplane's emergency locator transmitter, and a search and rescue helicopter picked up the pilot. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed extensive corrosion of the landing gear strut.

On August 6, 2001, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N4167Z, sustained substantial damage during a landing at a remote airstrip near Gunsight Mountain, located about 35 miles north-northeast of Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country business flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Arctic North Guiding Inc., North Pole, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notified the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 6th, that an emergency transmitter locator (ELT) signal had been detected north of the Brooks Mountain Range. A search and rescue helicopter from the North Slope Borough, Barrow, Alaska, responded to the scene and picked up the pilot. The pilot was taken by the helicopter to the pilot's hunting camp. The helicopter crew reported the pilot made a hard landing, and the airplane received damage to the right landing gear strut assembly, the propeller, and the leading edge of the right wing.

An FAA inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported that after temporary repairs by a mechanic, the airplane was flown to Fairbanks, Alaska. The inspector examined the airplane on August 20, and reported the landing gear strut assembly had evidence of extensive corrosion. The inspector said that when the landing gear strut failed, the leading edge of the right wing collided with a large rock. About two feet of the leading edge of the wing was crushed aft about 4 inches.

The closest official weather observation station is Anaktuvuk Pass. On August 6, 2001, at 1355, an automated weather observation system (AWOS) was reporting in part: Wind, 180 degrees (true) at 5 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 3,400 feet scattered, 4,600 feet overcast; temperature, 45 degrees F; dew point, 43 degrees F; altimeter, 29.84 inHg.