Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18 N6220C

Summary

On 12 June 1997 at about 15:00 local time, a Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18 registered N6220C was involved in an accident near Swifton, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 June 1997 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Swifton, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Private Airstrip (NONE)

Coordinates

35.8208, -91.1200

Aircraft

Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18

Registration

N6220C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97LA216

1 person had minor injuries.

Main landing gear collapse resulting from a failure of the torque link assembly attaching bolt. A factor was the lack of required maintenance (lubrication of the bolt) which resulted in the bolt becoming dry and corroded.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During takeoff, after the tail wheel came up and before attaining flying speed, the right main landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the right wheel assembly castored about 90 degrees, causing the aircraft to veer off the side of the runway, and travel about 100 yards through a plowed field. Just prior to coming to rest, the aircraft rolled inverted and a post impact fire consumed the engine compartment and hopper area. Examination of the right main landing gear assembly revealed that the right main landing gear torque link assembly attaching bolt failed. The external surface of the bolt was corroded, and the fracture surface showed evidence of overload failure. There was no evidence of lubrication residues on the bolt and adjacent torque link assembly. According to the aircraft's maintenance manual, the main landing gear torque link assembly attaching bolt should be lubricated every 50 hours. Examination of the maintenance records, did not show any entries made regarding the lubrication of the aforementioned items.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.