# NTSB CEN18LA271: Steen Skybolt, N22GL, Lexington, TX, July 14, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 2018, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Lexington, TX - Coordinates: 30.391666, -97.108329 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3917&lon=-97.1083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 97795 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA271 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97795/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97795 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA271 ## Probable cause The fatigue failure of the main landing gear (MLG) truss, which resulted in the MLG spreading apart. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Leake SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=05655A6), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Leake SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=05655A6), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Leake SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05655A6), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Leake SKYBOLT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05655A6), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis After landing and while taxiing to the hangar, the bottom of the airplane's fuselage began to drag on the ground. Realizing that something was wrong, the pilot stopped the airplane and turned the engine magneto switch to off. Postaccident examination revealed that a fatigue failure of the main landing gear (MLG) truss had occurred, which allowed the MLG to spread apart. ## Factual narrative On July 14, 2018, about 1400 central daylight time, a Leake Steen Skybolt biplane, N22GL, was substantially damaged when the main landing gear failed while it was taxiing from landing at Cotton Patch Airport (TA75), Lexington, Texas. The pilot was not injured, but the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the accident site at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from TA75 about 1300. According to the pilot, he flew to Taylor, Texas, to refuel his airplane. He then flew back to TA75 and landed. While taxiing to the hangar, the bottom of the airplane's fuselage began to drag on the ground. Realizing that something was wrong, the pilot stopped the airplane and turned the engine magneto switch to off. Postaccident examination revealed the main landing gear had failed, allowing it to spread apart. The pilot later reported there was a fatigue failure in the landing gear truss. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22GL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22GL), registered now, S/N GL-1, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Steen Skybolt - Registry model: [Leake SKYBOLT](https://openairdocs.org/model/leake-skybolt) (registry code 05655A6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: GL-1 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 1511 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 25, 2018, 4 hours before - Departed: T74, Taylor, TX - Destination: TA75, Lexington, TX - Airport: TA75, Cotton Patch - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2018; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 818 total, 429 in this make and model, 818 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: GYB ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97795. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466501&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466502&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Email from Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466503&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Report Photos (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 505 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466504&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20Photos-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.