- Date
- December 26, 2003, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Birminghham, AL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N124DCSabreliner NA-265-60
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Birmingham FSDO
- FAA report
- 20031226036479I
- Case key
- 58668
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
The lack of lubrication of the right main wheel bearing which resulted in the overheating.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After landing at the Birmingham International Airport, Alabama it was discovered that the right main wheel was missing off of the landing gear assembly. Further examination of the right main wheel revealed that the bearings had failed and the wheel passed over the axle assembly. The Birmingham Flight Standards District Office of the Federal Aviation Administration requested assistance with the metallurgical examination of the right main landing gear bearing assembly. Examination of the outer bearing revealed temperature exposure and severe rubbing. The examination of the bearing assembly also revealed that no grease or lubricant was present on the fragmented pieces of the bearing.
Factual narrative
On December 26, 2003, at 1115 central standard time, a Saberliner, N124DC, registered to and operated by Drummond Company Inc., loss the right main wheel during landing on runway 27 at Birmingham International Airport, Birmingham, Alabama. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. The airline transport pilot and co-pilot were not injured. The airplane sustained minor damage. The flight departed Savannah International Airport, Georgia, on December 26, 2003, at 1030.
After landing at the Birmingham International Airport, Alabama it was discovered that the right main wheel was missing off of the landing gear assembly. Further examination of the right main wheel revealed that the bearings had failed and the wheel passed over the axle assembly. The Birmingham Flight Standards District Office of the Federal Aviation Administration requested assistance with the metallurgical examination of the right main landing gear bearing assembly. Examination of the outer bearing revealed temperature exposure and severe rubbing. The examination of the bearing assembly also revealed that no grease or lubricant was present on the fragmented pieces of the bearing.
Review of maintenance records showed the last inspection on the right main landing gear wheel assembly was conducted on August 8, 2003. The inboard cup was replaced on August 13, 2003.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N124DC
- Reported as
- Sabreliner NA-265-60
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 560-5132
- Airframe hours
- 6,708
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney JT-128N, 3,300 lbs thrust, turbo jet
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Drummond Company Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · December 30, 2003 · 6,708 hours before
- Departed
- SAV · Savannah, GA
- Destination
- BHM · Birmingham, AL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- BHM · Birmingham, runway 27, 9,351 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 18,500 total
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 62
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 18,450 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.38 inHg
- Observed at
- BHM
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.