On July 23, 2002, at 1600 central daylight time, a Cessna 140, N2070N, owned and piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the left main landing gear separated from the airplane while landing on runway 13 (3,200 feet by 75 feet dry/asphalt) at the Cook Municipal Airport (CQM), Cook, Minnesota. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight originated at the Cloquet Carlton County Airport (COQ), Cloquet, Minnesota, at 1500. The pilot reported the local winds were variable out of the south, and he elected to land on runway 13. He reported that the approach was normal and after touchdown, the airplane continued straight on the runway for a short distance prior to veering to the right. The pilot reported he got the airplane back to the center of the runway at which time the wheel axle and brake assembly separated from the left main gear. He reported the left main gear leg contacted the runway, and the airplane was pulled to the left. The gear leg then separated from the airplane and the fuselage, propeller, and left wing struck the runway. The airplane skidded off the side of the runway coming to rest in the grass. The weather observation taken at the Cook Municipal Airport, two minutes prior to the accident, recorded with winds as calm. The pilot reported the winds were variable out of the south at 5 - 6 knots.