Accident Bellanca 7GCBC N9109L, Monday 17 October 1983

You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.

Date:	Monday 17 October 1983
Time:	12:30 LT
Type:	Bellanca 7GCBC
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N9109L
MSN:	299-71
Year of manufacture:	1970
Total airframe hrs:	618 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming O-320-A2B
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Capitan, NM - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT BOUNCED ON LANDING, RESULTING IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE MAIN GEAR & DAMAGE TO THE PROP & LEFT WING. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE U-BOLT WHICH ATTACHES THE LEFT MAIN GEAR STRUT TO THE FUSELAGE HAD FAILED DUE TO TENSILE OVERLOAD. SEVERAL PREEXISTING CRACKS WERE FOUND IN THE RADIUS OF THE U-BOLT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT A CRACK & THAT THE U-BOLT HAD BEEN LOOSE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: