ANC14LA054

The private pilot was landing his tailwheel-equipped airplane on a remote tidal beach. The pilot reported that, upon touchdown, the airplane bounced slightly before settling on the right main landing gear (MLG). In an effort to correct for the right-wing-low landing, the pilot applied left aileron, but the right wing continued to descend. The right MLG wheel axle separated from the gear leg, and the airplane slid along the beach, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Examination of the four right MLG attachment bolts revealed features consistent with an overload on the MLG axle. Therefore, it is likely the pilot executed a hard uncoordinated landing, which resulted in the separation of the right MLG axle upon landing.

On July 14, 2014, about 0930 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 180H airplane, N9083M, sustained substantial damage while landing on a beach on Montague Island, about 60 miles east of Seward, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot, and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Wolf Lake Airport, Palmer, Alaska at approximately 0835. In a written report to the National Transportation Safety Board dated July 20, the pilot reported that he was landing on the beach at Patton Bay on the east side of Montague Island. Upon touchdown the airplane bounced slightly before settling on the right main landing gear. In an effort to correct for the right wing low landing the pilot applied left aileron, but the right wing continued to descend. The right main wheel separated from the gear leg, and the airplane slid along the surface sustaining substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. A postaccident examination, by the pilot, revealed that the right main landing gear axle separated from the gear leg. The axle and its four attaching bolts were sent to the NTSB's Materials Laboratory in Washington D.C. for examination. A Senior Safety Board Materials Engineer reported that the two forward attachment bolts, were bent slightly aft and exhibited longitudinal wear marks near the end of the threaded section with helical strips of metal present near the middle of the threaded section. The two aft bolts were bent aft, and the fractured surfaces were consistent with an overstress fracture. A complete copy of the NTSB's materials laboratory factual report is included in the public docket for this accident.