- Date
- August 12, 2021, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Brasstown, NC
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N409JDCollins Robert S Just Acft Highlander
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20210812014259A
- Case key
- 103894
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure of the left main landing gear wheel lock nuts, which resulted in a wheel separation and nose over during landing.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel, experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that he had completed 11 takeoffs and landings to a full stop. During a subsequent takeoff, he saw that the left main landing gear wheel was wobbling. He returned to the turf airstrip and landed at the slowest possible speed; however, the left main landing gear wheel separated, and the airplane came to rest inverted on the runway. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. Three lock nuts that secured the wheel were missing and not recovered. Additionally, there was no damage or stripping on the threads of the respective studs. The pilot could not see the three nuts during preflight inspection as they were concealed by a hubcap. The mechanic that completed a condition inspection about 2 months prior to the accident, stated that the three missing nuts were light locknuts, made of an alloy. The mechanic removed the hubcap during the inspection as he had to lubricate the wheel bearing. At that time, he could see that the three nuts were secure; however, since they were already set to a torque, he did not attempt to tighten them.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N409JD
- Reported as
- Collins Robert S Just Acft Highlander
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- JAESC0142
- Built
- 2007
- Airframe hours
- 1,025
- Engine
- Rotax 914ULS, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · June 1, 2021 · 5 hours before
- Airport
- NONE · Private Airstrip, runway 18, 2,200 × 40 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Sport Pilot, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Last flight review
- July 10, 2020
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 449 total · 145 in this make and model · 400 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.21 inHg
- Observed at
- RHP, 10 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.