# NTSB MKC86IA058: SAAB-Fairchild SF340, N342AM, St. Louis, MO, February 5, 1986

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: February 5, 1986, 10:52 local (16:52 UTC)
- Place: St. Louis, MO
- Location: 38.6273° N, 90.1979° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of St. Louis, MO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6273&lon=-90.1979&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 12 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34096
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC86IA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34096/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC86IA058

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb
  - landing gear,main gear - loss,partial (cause)
  - landing gear,wheel - separation (cause)
  - landing gear,wheel - failure,partial (cause)

## Analysis

ON INITIAL CLIMBOUT FM LAMBERT FIELD, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, THE CONTROL TOWER AT LAMBERT RPTD TO THE PIC OF FLT 1163 THAT ONE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEELS HAD FALLEN OFF THE ACFT. THE ACFT WAS RETURNED AND LANDED SAFELY. INITIAL INSPECTION REVEALED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A BEARING FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT DEPARTURE OF THE RIGHT OUTBOARD WHEEL ASSY. NO ADDITIONAL INSPECTION BY THE MANUFACTURER WAS ATTEMPTED DUE TO THE LACK OF FAILED BEARING MATERIAL FROM THE MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N342AM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SAAB-Fairchild SF340
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 011
- Airframe hours: 1984
- Engines: GE CT7-5A2 1500 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Air Midwest
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 4, 1986, 23 hours before
- Departed: STL, ST. LOUIS, MO
- Destination: JIN, JOPLIN, MO
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 15,740 total, 675 in this make and model, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: STL

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19860205004249I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860205004249I), Feb 5, 1986: Saab SF340A, St Louis, MO. Right outboard main wheel and tire assembly separated due to wheel bearing failure. Safe return landing.

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.

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