Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER N642JB accident near Fresno, California

Probable cause

The failure of the nose landing gear (NLG) leg due to fatigue fractures, which resulted in the NLG collapsing during landing.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, during the third landing of the flight and as the nose landing gear (NLG) touched down, an immediate shimmy developed that sounded "clunky." The NLG subsequently collapsed, and the light-sport airplane then skidded to a stop on the runway and sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The pilot stated that the landing flare was "normal" and that the main landing gear touched down first. He reported that there were no anomalies with the landing gear during the previous two landings.

Examination of the NLG assembly revealed that the NLG leg was fractured at the weld joint in the upper attachment area and that the fracture features were consistent with fatigue cracking. Multiple fatigue fracture origins were found at the forward edge of the assembly weld on the left side of the NLG leg. The fatigue crack penetrated about 50 percent of the NLG leg's cross-section and was consistent with side-to-side loading of the leg.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA15LA092 for the full record.