ERA12LA518

The flight instructor reported that the student pilot's approach to a turf runway in the vintage biplane was normal; however, the landing flare was high and the touchdown was firm. After touchdown, the right main landing gear upper strut arm separated, which resulted in a collapse of the right main landing gear. Metallurgical examination of the fractured upper strut arm revealed the tube was buckled and bent and had fracture features consistent with overstress and bending of the tube in one direction. No evidence of preexisting cracking or fatigue was noted.

On August 16, 2012, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Meyers OTW-160, N26490, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a landing gear collapse, while landing at a private airstrip in Worton, Maryland. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot were not injured. The instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Wright Field (MD11), Chestertown, Maryland, about 1420. The CFI reported that after fueling at MD11, they flew back to the student pilot's home airstrip to practice landings. The student pilot's approach to the turf runway was normal; however, the flare was "slightly high" and the touchdown was "slightly firm." After touchdown, the right main landing gear upper strut arm separated, which resulted in a collapse of the right main landing gear. The right wing subsequently impacted the ground and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest in a vertical position on the runway. The CFI further stated that there appeared to be a preexisting crack on the right main landing gear upper strut arm, and that paint had hid the crack from visual inspection. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The inspector retained the fractured upper strut arm and forwarded it to the NTSB Materials Laboratory, Washington, DC, for further examination. Metallurgical examination of the fractured upper strut arm revealed the tube was buckled and bent and had fracture features consistent with overstress and bending of the tube in one direction. No evidence of preexisting cracks or fatigue was noted. The winds were reported as calm during the time of the accident.