LAX01LA228

During an aerial application flight, the pilot misjudged his altitude and inadvertently collided with a berm thus severing a main landing gear wheel. Thereafter, the pilot landed on the remaining gear. As the airplane slowed to a stop, a wing contacted the ground thus bending an outboard nose rib. The structural deformation was of sufficient severity to have adversely affected the airplane's cruise performance. The pilot was experienced in aerial application flying having amassed over 8,000 hours in the accident model of airplane.

On June 27, 2001, about 0830 hours Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer G-164B, N2236F, owned and operated by Sunrise Dusters, Inc., collided with a berm during an aerial application flight near Meridian, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial certificated pilot was not injured. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 137, and originated from Knights Landing, California, about 0730.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that while flying at a low altitude over the field, the right main landing gear separated upon colliding with a berm. Thereafter, the pilot burned off fuel and landed on the remaining main landing gear wheel. As the airplane rolled to a stop the wing contacted the ground and bent a nose rib, inboard of the wing tip. Additional damage was subsequently noted and involved a bent firewall. The pilot indicated that this firewall damage may have existed prior to the subject mishap.

The pilot holds a Federal Aviation Administration airframe and powerplant certificate. He opined that the damage to the wing section was not of sufficient severity to adversely affect the airplane's performance or flight characteristics while maneuvering at near sea level altitudes. Regarding the pilot's flying experience, he indicated that he had approximately 8,000 flight hours piloting the Schweizer. His total flight time is about 35,000 hours.