Probable cause
The failure of the nose landing gear retention bolt during taxi which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with the taxiway.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that after landing, he applied the brakes and felt a “violent shimmy.” He released the brakes and the nose landing gear leg rotated left and aft which resulted in the right wing impacting the runway surface.
A post-accident examination revealed that the nose landing gear retention bolt had sheared and the airplane had sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot stated that he was the second owner and noticed that the original builder had not followed the design plans for the airplane, so the pilot modified the nose wheel attach plate to strengthen it but did not modify the gear assembly attach point which resulted in the failure.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA21LA385 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 29, 2021
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Brooksville, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Brooksville-Tampa Bay Rgnl (BKV)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built W10-WITTMAN TAILWIND
- N-number
- N68TW
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2005
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.