Bellanca 7GCBC Citabria, G-HUNI, 31 May 2010
Bellanca 7GCBC Citabria, G-HUNI
Summary:
Whilst landing on Runway 07 at Henstridge, the right main landing gear leg failed and detached from the aircraft, causing the underside of the fuselage and the right wingtip to contact the runway. The aircraft veered to the right and came to rest beside the runway, facing in the opposite direction. Both occupants were uninjured and able to vacate the aircraft unaided. The pilot reported that the weather conditions were good, with a surface wind from 060° at 5 kt, and that the approach and touchdown were normal. He had satisfactorily completed a proficiency check with an instructor immediately prior to this flight. The detached section of the steel landing gear leg was returned to the AAIB for examination. Inspection of the fracture surfaces revealed evidence of an approximately 15 mm deep pre-existing crack propagating from the rear edge of the gear leg. The crack surfaces in this region were heavily corroded, indicating that the crack had been present for some time prior to the failure.
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