N1613M

On September 19, 1998, at 1736 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 185E, N1613M, veered off the runway on landing at the Falcon Field Airport, Mesa, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The cross-country personal flight originated at Rock Springs, Wyoming, at 1300, and was terminating at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that he landed on runway 22L, and during the rollout when he applied the brakes, the left wheel separated from the main landing gear. The aircraft then veered off to the left side of the runway.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Scottsdale, Arizona, Flight Standards District Office examined the aircraft and reported that it was equipped with a snow-ski adapter kit in accordance with STC #SA3-717, which had been installed on November 20, 1972. He further reported that the four-wheel assembly retention bolts sheared upon the landing touchdown, with the upper two bolts failing first. The nuts were then stripped off from the lower two bolts. The left landing gear wheel assembly departed the landing gear strut.

According to the FAA inspector, there is no inspection criteria for the wheel-assembly retention bolts.