Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CEN09CA552

Abilene, KS, USA

Aircraft #1

N8312G

CESSNA 150F

Analysis

The student pilot said that while landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on runway 35 with a north-northeast wind of 8 mph, he failed to lower the right wing into the wind. The wind raised the right wing while he was using left rudder. The airplane swerved to the east and the left wheel broke off. The airplane then nosed down, buckling the firewall. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors who examined the airplane reported the left axle bore a fracture surface consistent with an overload failure.

Factual Information

The student pilot said that while landing on runway 35 with a north-northeast wind of 8 mph, he failed to lower the right wing into the wind. The wind raised the right wing while he was using left rudder. The airplane swerved to the east and the left wheel broke off. The airplane then nosed down, buckling the firewall. The airplane was a Cessna 150F with a tailwheel conversion. FAA inspectors who examined the airplane reported the left axle bore a fracture surface consistent with an overload failure.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's inadequate crosswind landing technique, resulting in an excessive side load on the left landing gear that led to an overload failure of its axle.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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