# NTSB LAX01LA060: John D. Lueck Avid Amphibian, N6013T, Las Vegas, NV, December 17, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 17, 2000, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.160705, -115.429565 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1607&lon=-115.4296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 14, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50788 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50788/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA060 ## Probable cause The failure of the landing gear axle for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - landing gear,axle - failure (cause) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,main gear shock absorbing strut - not installed - acft/equip,inadequate design, kit manufacturer - landing gear,wheel - binding(mechanical) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - aircraft parked/standing ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6013T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6013T-2013-08-05), registration cancelled 2013-08-05, S/N 121A, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: John D. Lueck AVID AMPHIBIAN (AVID AMPHI) - Registry model: [Lueck John D AVID AMPHIBIAN](https://openairdocs.org/model/lueck-john-d-avid-amphibian) (registry code 05602FH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 121A - Airframe hours: 48 - Engines: Rotax 618 74 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel K. Cathcart - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 2000, 14 hours before - Airport: Private Airstrip, runway 27, 1,850 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 3 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 142 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LAS ## 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 20001217035479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001217035479A), Dec 17, 2000: Arden, NV, No damage. (-23) Upon landing, the left main gear axle attach point bent causing the airplane to swerve to the left and it hit a parked helicopter. 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.