Investigation number
198702409
Occurrence date
Location
"Ugumijil" (28 km SW Dubbo)
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Occurrence class
Accident
Highest injury level
None

On touchdown following a superphosphate spreading operation, the pilot heard a loud cracking noise from the left side of the aircraft. Shortly afterwards the left mainwheel detached, the aircraft swung sharply and tipped onto its nose, before coming to rest in an upright attitude. The left mainwheel axle was found to have fractured. The left axle had been in service for 7452 flight hours, and was estimated to have been involved in about 70,000 landings. The failure was determined to have initiated from fatigue cracking, which had propagated through about 60 percent of the axle diameter before the axle ultimately failed from overload forces.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Cessna Aircraft Company
Model
188
Registration
VH-EUU
Serial number
N/K
Operation type
Aerial Work
Departure point
"Ugumijil" NSW
Departure time
N/K
Destination
"Ugumijil" NSW
Damage
Substantial