N29JMVans Aircraft RV-14 · 2025

The pilot reported that the flight and approach for landing were uneventful. He executed a wheel landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane without any difficulties. However, during touchdown, he heard a “thunk” which, in hindsight, was the right landing gear wheel assembly separating from the strut. The airplane continued about 35 feet until the right landing gear strut contacted the ground and the airplane veered to the right and nosed over. The airframe sustained damage to the left wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder.

A post-accident examination of the airplane confirmed that the right wheel assembly had separated from the landing gear strut. The four attachment bolts were retained by the wheel assembly and were bent. The corresponding nuts were not recovered. Damage to the landing gear strut was consistent with contact to the ground following separation of the wheel assembly. No evidence of a failure of the landing gear strut was observed. Similarly, there was no indication that the attachment hardware failed to perform as intended.

It is possible that the bolt torque was insufficient on installation or that the bolts loosened for another reason during operation. Once compromised, the nuts ultimately came off the bolts which allowed the wheel assembly to separate from the strut.