# NTSB CHI95LA287: Beech 65-B80, N8347N, Anderson, IN, August 20, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 1995, 11:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Anderson, IN - Coordinates: 40.130092, -85.760704 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1301&lon=-85.7607&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 12 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10002 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA287 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10002/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA287 ## Probable cause seizure of the landing gear wheel bearing and separation of the landing gear outer wheel-half and tire from the aircraft after which directional control of the aircraft by the pilot was not possible. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - roll/run - landing gear,wheel - seized (cause) - landing gear,wheel - separation - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOST DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED SIDEWAYS, VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY INTO AN AGRICULTURAL FIELD AND BOTH MAIN LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLIES COLLAPSED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT SPEED REACHED 70 - 75 MILES PER HOUR WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT. HE RETARDED THE ENGINE THROTTLES TO IDLE AND APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER CONTROL AND RIGHT WHEEL BRAKE BUT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. INSPECTION DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY ON THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR HAD BROKEN INTO TWO PARTS. THE OUTER WHEEL HALF AND THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND THE LANDING GEAR AXLE DUG INTO THE TURF RUNWAY. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE OUTER BEARING OF THE WHEEL THAT FAILED HAD SEIZED FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE BOLTS HOLDING THE WHEEL HALVES TOGETHER HAD FAILED. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 1995, at 1140 eastern standard time, a Beech 65-B80, N8347N was substantially damaged when directional control was lost during the takeoff roll on runway 27 (3580' x 100', turf) at Ace Airpark, Anderson, Indiana. The aircraft veered off the runway and came to a rest upright in an adjacent agricultural field. The commercial pilot and the eleven passengers aboard the aircraft reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was carrying skydivers in visual meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that the takeoff was normal until the aircraft speed reached 70 - 75 miles per hour when he heard a loud noise from the left side of the aircraft and the aircraft veered to the left. The pilot retarded the engine throttles to idle and applied right rudder control and right wheel brake but was unable to maintain directional control. The left wingtip contacted agricultural crops (corn) bordering the runway causing the aircraft to veer further to the left and skid sideways. Airworthiness inspectors from the FAA Flight Standards District Office (Indianapolis) determined that the wheel assembly on the left main landing gear had broken into two parts. The outer wheel half and the tire separated from the aircraft at a location approximately 500 feet from the start of the takeoff roll and the landing gear axle dug into the turf runway. The aircraft veered to the left and skidded sideways until the aircraft departed the runway and both main landing gear assemblies collapsed. The aircraft came to rest approximately 1100 feet from the departure end of the runway, 75 feet left of runway centerline and heading approximately 165 degrees (magnetic). Further investigation revealed that the outer bearing of the wheel that failed had seized for undetermined reasons and the bolts holding the wheel halves together then failed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8347N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8347N-2017-05-23), registration cancelled 2017-05-23, S/N LD-380, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 65-B80 - Registry model: [Beech 65-B80](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-65-b80) (registry code 1152812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IGSO-540-B1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-igso-540-b1a) (registry code 41535, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LD-380 - Airframe hours: 5135 - Engines: LYCOMING IGSO-540 380 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Skydive Anderson, Inc. - Registered owner: T And M Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 20, 1994, 84 hours before - Departed: 3AE - Airport: 3AE, Ace Airpark, runway 27, 3,580 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,360 total, 135 in this make and model, 1,180 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 5 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AID, 5 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). - [Accident 19950820025729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950820025729A), Aug 20, 1995: Beech 65B80, Anderson, IN, Substantial damage. Lost directional control on takeoff skidded sideways off runway. Folded main gear. Wheel assembly broke up. (-23) aircraft started a take off with eleven… 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.