Collins Robert S JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER N409JD

Summary

On 12 August 2021 at about 18:30 local time, a Collins Robert S JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER registered N409JD was involved in an accident near Brasstown, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 August 2021 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Brasstown, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Private Airstrip (NONE)

Coordinates

35.0502, -83.9479

Aircraft

Collins Robert S JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER

Registration

N409JD

Category

Airplane

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21LA367

1 person had minor injuries.

Failure of the left main landing gear wheel lock nuts, which resulted in a wheel separation and nose over during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel, experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that he had completed 11 takeoffs and landings to a full stop. During a subsequent takeoff, he saw that the left main landing gear wheel was wobbling. He returned to the turf airstrip and landed at the slowest possible speed; however, the left main landing gear wheel separated, and the airplane came to rest inverted on the runway. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer. Three lock nuts that secured the wheel were missing and not recovered. Additionally, there was no damage or stripping on the threads of the respective studs. The pilot could not see the three nuts during preflight inspection as they were concealed by a hubcap. The mechanic that completed a condition inspection about 2 months prior to the accident, stated that the three missing nuts were light locknuts, made of an alloy. The mechanic removed the hubcap during the inspection as he had to lubricate the wheel bearing. At that time, he could see that the three nuts were secure; however, since they were already set to a torque, he did not attempt to tighten them.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.