Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER N832LL

Summary

On 18 June 2010 at about 20:30 local time, a Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER registered N832LL, operated by L&L Light Sport Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Freehold, New York, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 June 2010 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Freehold, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Freehold Airport (1I5)

Coordinates

42.3642, -74.0658

Aircraft

Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER

Registration

N832LL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

L&L Light Sport Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Freehold → Freehold

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10LA330

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the nosegear fork assembly due to fatigue. Contributing to the accident was an inadequate recent annual inspection.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot was practicing landings in a special light sport aircraft on an asphalt runway. After a soft touchdown, the nosegear collapsed and the airplane skidded approximately 30 feet before coming to rest on the runway. Examination of the wreckage revealed damage to the forward fuselage and firewall. The nosegear fork assembly separated from the nosegear strut on one end, and separated from the nosewheel on the other end. Further examination of the nosegear assembly revealed the fork of the assembly consisted of two aluminum fork leaves riveted together, which exhibited cracks. The inner fork leaf, which extended further than the outer leaf, had through holes for the wheel’s axle. The inner fork leaf was found to also have cracks on the side opposite the one that had separated. Microscopic examination revealed that the fractures on both pieces of the inner fork leaf were due to fatigue that initiated at multiple origins. Collectively, the fatigue cracks went through the thickness of the fork leaf. The large number of fatigue cracks was consistent with the nose gear fork assembly deteriorating for an extended period of time. The cracks were of a size that could be identified by visual examination. The nosegear strut exhibited slant fractures consistent with overstress. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed about 3 months, and 38 hours of operation, prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.