N284E

On August 17, 2011, about 1745 central daylight time, a Suminski Jabiru SP airplane, N284E, was substantially damaged during a runway excursion on landing at Sackman Field Airport (H49), Columbia, Illinois. The pilot and flight instructor were not injured. The experimental amateur-built airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from H49 about 1630.

The pilot reported that he was conducting proficiency work with a flight instructor at the time of the accident. He stated that on the third landing of the flight, after rolling out about 500 feet, the airplane veered to the right and departed the runway. It subsequently encountered a berm and came to rest in an adjacent corn field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage.

A postaccident examination revealed that the right main landing gear wheel had separated from the airplane. Further inspection noted that the components that retained the main wheel, the Extension Stub Axle and 3/16-inch bolt, had separated from the axle. These components were not recovered. Visual examination of the bolt attachment hole on the landing gear strut axle did not reveal any damage.