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GAA18CA203

2018-04-06 · Caldwell, Idaho, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport EUL

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The failure of the weld on the airplane’s left main landing gear axle support strut during landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot in the experimental amateur-built airplane, during landing the airplane bounced and the pilot added power. The airplane landed on the runway, but the left side of the airplane "dropped" to the ground. The airplane exited the left side of the runway where it came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. The Federal Aviation Administration, Aviation Safety Inspector that examined the airplane reported that the weld on the left main landing gear axle support strut had failed. According to the pilot in the experimental, amateur-built airplane, during landing, the airplane bounced, and the pilot added power. The airplane landed on the runway, but the left side of the airplane "dropped" to the ground. The airplane exited the left side of the runway where it came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. The Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector that examined the airplane reported that the weld on the left main landing gear axle support strut had failed with some signs of overload. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Main gear strut/axle/truck-Failure - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Attain/maintain not possible - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA203.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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