Service difficulty report · Wheel · Airtrc AT301

Difficulty date
July 28, 2001
Submitted
July 30, 2001
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N4361S
Make and model
Airtrc AT301
Aircraft serial
3010041
Aircraft time
5,100 hours
Part
Wheel
Part number
40041
Condition
Fatigued
Location
Mlg
Part time
5,100 hours
Stage of operation
TO
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
D
Precautionary procedure
C

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

DURING TAKEOFF, RIGHT MAIN WHEEL HALF (OUTBOARD) SEPARATED. PILOT UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND WENT IN ROAD DITCH AND LANDED INVERTED. MINOR INJURY TO PILOT. WHEEL NUT, BEARING AND SPACER WERE STILL ON AXLE UPON ARRIVAL AT ACCIDENT SCENE. OUTER BEARING RACE HAD PULLED THROUGH WHEEL HALF RACE SHOULDER AND ALL 9 WHEEL BOLTS WERE EITHER BROKE UNDER TENSION OR HAD NUTS PULLED OFF BOLTS LEAVING BOLTS INTACT WITH NUT THREADS STILL EMBEDDED IN BOLT THREADS. CAUSE OF WHEEL FAILURE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. IMPROPER WHEEL ASSEMBLY OR INSTALLATION OF OVERSIZE TIRES AND TOO MUCH AIR PRESSURE ARE POSSIBILITIES OF FAILURE.