LAX01LA060

The amateur-built experimental aircraft had recently been purchased and the purpose of the flight was for the pilot, a friend of the new owners, to familiarize himself with the airplane prior to checking them out. The aircraft was equipped with amphibious floats produced in kit form by the aircraft kit manufacturer. The pilot reported that the terrain landing was normal until, after about 50 feet of rollout, the left main landing gear axle bent, collapsed, and locked the wheel. He was unable to prevent the airplane from veering off the runway where it struck a parked helicopter. According to the owner, after the accident, he learned that the wheels for terrain landing are built into the floats using balloon tires but no other mechanical shock absorption mechanism. Because of other similar incidents, an after-market kit was available to incorporate shock absorbers. The failed axle was not made available to the Safety Board in order to determine the failure cause.

On December 17, 2000, at 1415 hours Pacific standard time, a amateur-built experimental Lueck Avid Amphibian, N6013T, was substantially damaged when the aircraft veered off the runway and struck a parked helicopter at Barton Field private airport near Las Vegas, Nevada. The aircraft was operated by the owner under 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local area personal flight that originated from Barton Field about 1300.

The aircraft had recently been purchased, and the purpose of the flight was for the pilot to familiarize himself with the aircraft prior to checking out the new owners in the airplane. The pilot reported that the landing was normal until, after about 50 feet of rollout, the left main landing gear axle bent, collapsed, and locked the wheel. He was unable to prevent the airplane from veering off the runway where it struck a parked helicopter.

The amateur-built aircraft was equipped with amphibious floats produced in kit form by the aircraft manufacturer. According to the owner, after the accident, he learned that the wheels for terrain landing are built into the floats using balloon tires but no other mechanical shock absorption mechanism. Because of other similar incidents, an after-market kit is available to incorporate shock absorbers. The axle was not made available to the Safety Board for examination. There was no assessment of the cause of failure.