N71128

On May 14, 1994, about 1425 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8E, N71128, registered to Elizabeth B. Burbank, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 glider tow flight, crashed on landing at the Bob Lee Airport, Deland, Florida. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot received a minor injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Deland, Florida, at 1415.

The pilot stated that on landing touchdown the left main landing gear wheel separated when the gear strut failed. The remainder of the strut dug into the grass runway and the aircraft nosed over on to its back.

Examination of the aircraft by FAA inspectors indicated the left landing gear strut was rusted and had a preexisting crack at the point the lower strut and main wheel separated. Water had been trapped inside the strut tube. No drain holes were present in the tube.

The holder of the Luscombe FAA Type Certificate stated that the strut has several bolt holes through it. The strut "sweats" internally causing water to build up in the lower part of the strut. Rust then forms, resulting in strut failure due to cracking.