# NTSB CHI93IA069: de Havilland DHC-8-311, N433AW, Savoy, IL, January 9, 1993

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 9, 1993, 07:19 local (13:19 UTC)
- Place: Savoy, IL
- Coordinates: 40.060153, -88.250312 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0602&lon=-88.2503&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 40 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15593
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93IA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15593/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93IA069

## Probable cause

THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE INBOARD RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEEL AXLE DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff
  - landing gear,steering system - exceeded (contributing factor)
  - nosewheel steering - unavailable
  - landing gear,wheel - contamination (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel
  - aircraft handling - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,axle - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT WAS DELAYED ON THE RUNWAY AFTER THE FLIGHT CREW EXCEEDED THE POWER NOSEWHEEL STEERING RANGE DURING A TIGHT 180 DEGREE TURN INTO POSITION.  AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO STRAIGHTEN THE (CASTORING) NOSEWHEEL USING DIFFERENTIAL POWER AND BRAKES, THE CREW CALLED FOR GROUND PERSONNEL TO ASSIST.  GROUND PERSONNEL REPORTED THE INBOARD WHEEL OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR (#3 WHEEL) APPEARED TO BE LEANING AGAINST THE STRUT.  THE CO-PILOT STATED THE LANDING GEAR APPEARED NORMAL AND THE FLIGHT DEPARTED.  SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF, THE #3 WHEEL FELL TO THE GROUND. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE FRACTURE OF THE AXLE WAS THE RESULT OF THE DEGRADATION AND FAILURE OF THE #3 INNER WHEEL BEARING. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE WHEEL BEARING GREASE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N433AW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-8-311
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 305
- Airframe hours: 1771
- Engines: P&W PW123 2380 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Air Wisconsin, Inc., doing business as United Express
- Registered owner: Air Wisconsin, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 7, 1993, 7 hours before
- Departed: CMI
- Destination: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CMI, U. Of I. Willard Apt, runway 4, 5,301 × 150 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10,676 total, 424 in this make and model, 152 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 70° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CMI, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19930109000959I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930109000959I), Jan 9, 1993: Dhav DHC8311, Champaign-Urban, IL, Minor damage. Lost right main gear inboard axle and wheel on climbout. Tight turn on taxi and force on nose steering a factor.

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.

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