NTSB CHI91LA303 — 1991-09-25 · NEWARK, Illinois, United States

Current FAA registration · N5164T

Make / Model: CHAMPION 7ECA
Year of manufacture: 1966 · 25 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19661203
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A67AAF

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N5164T Champion 7ECA None

Probable cause & findings

A SHEARED OLEO PISTON RETAINING PIN WHICH ALLOWED THE WHEEL TO FALL OUT.

Factual narrative

ON LIFTOFF FROM A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING, THE PISTON ROD OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR OLEO EXTENDED BEYOND ITS TUBE, FREEING THAT MAIN WHEEL TO FALL TO A TRAIL POSITION. THE PILOT LANDED FULL STOP ON THE LEFT MAIN AND TAIL WHEELS. THE OLEO PISTON RETAINING PIN WHICH CONNECTS THE ROD SHEARED IN COMPRESSION. PORTIONS OF THE OLEO ASSEMBLY SHOWED PREVIOUS DAMAGE AND WEAR, WHILE THE O-RING SEAL WAS NEWER. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_CHI91LA303.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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