NTSB Identification: WPR16LA080
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, March 05, 2016 in Queen Creek, AZ
Probable Cause Approval Date: 08/28/2017
Aircraft: NORTH WING APACHE, registration: N242WT
Injuries: 1 Serious.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The noncertificated pilot reported that, after takeoff in the light sport trike, about 200 ft above ground level, he heard a popping sound and the aircraft yawed to the right. He heard the sound a second time, and the aircraft turned hard to the right. The pilot applied full engine power in an attempt to recover and gain lift in order to deploy the ballistic parachute; however, the aircraft did not recover and subsequently collided with the ground in a nose-down attitude.
Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the investigation was unable to determine the cause of the yaw and subsequent loss of control. The pilot was not appropriately certificated, nor did he have any experience flying the accident aircraft make and model.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
A loss of control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the noncertificated pilot’s lack of experience in the aircraft type.
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale, Arizona
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
http://registry.faa.gov/N242WT
NTSB Identification: WPR16LA080
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, March 05, 2016 in Queen Creek, AZ
Aircraft: NORTH WING APACHE, registration: N242WT
Injuries: 1 Serious.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On March 5, 2016, about 1346 mountain standard time, an experimental, North Wing Apache, N242WT, weight-shift-control trike, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain following takeoff from a field, southeast of Queen Creek, Arizona. The non-certified pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The aircraft, which was recently purchased, was not yet registered. The pilot was operating the aircraft under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a local personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that after the owner assembled the aircraft, he performed a pre-flight inspection and then accomplished a short test flight to, an altitude of about 10 ft above ground level (agl). Following the successful test flight, with no reported abnormalities, the pilot departed on a subsequent flight. During climb-out, about 200 ft agl, he heard a "popping" sound and the aircraft yawed to the right. The aircraft remained in level flight, but was crabbing with the nose pointed to the right. The aircraft "popped again" and turned hard right. The wing lost lift and the aircraft started to dive to the right. The pilot applied full power in an attempt to recover and gain lift, so he could deploy the ballistic parachute. However, the aircraft did not recover and collided with the ground in a nose down attitude.
One witness, stated he observed the aircraft about 200 ft agl, flying straight and level. The engine sounded normal. The aircraft then banked 20° right, and then continued to bank until it reached about 85°. During the turn, a witness heard something snap twice. Subsequently, the aircraft impacted the ground in a nose down attitude.
The postaccident examination of the aircraft did not reveal any anomalies that would preclude normal operation. Although a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, did notice a broken rod on the right wing's internal strut sprog assembly, which attached to the leading edge.
According to a design expert for the make and model aircraft involved in the accident, the sprog provides a positive twist to the leading edge during zero lift flight; and therefore, would not have been under load during the flight. Additionally, examination of the fracture surfaces of the sprog's assembly and support tubes by the National Transportation Safety Board material laboratory determined that the separation was a result of overload failure, as no corrosion or pre-existing cracks were observed. The investigation was unable to determine the source of the sounds heard during the accident sequence.
The owner had purchased the 2-seat aircraft about four days before the accident and had not registered it nor documented a current annual inspection.
The pilot was not a certified pilot, but reported 160 hours in single engine aircraft and several hours in single seat weight shift ultralight aircraft. No hours had been accumulated in the make and model aircraft involved in the accident.
NTSB Identification: WPR16LA080
14 CFR Part 103: Ultralight
Accident occurred Saturday, March 05, 2016 in Queen Creek, AZ
Aircraft: NORTH WING APACHE, registration: N242WT
Injuries: 1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On March 5, 2016, about 1346 mountain standard time, an experimental, North Wing Apache, N242WT, weight-shift-control (WSC) trike, collided with terrain following takeoff from a field, southeast of Queen Creek, Arizona. The trike was previously registered to a private individual and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 103. The pilot sustained serious injuries and was the sole person on board. During the accident sequence, the trike sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local personal flight departed at an undetermined time.
According to local law enforcement officials, the pilot reported hearing a "snapping" sound about 200 feet, above ground level, and performed an emergency landing in a field. Subsequently, the trike sustained substantial damage to the wings during the landing.
The trike was recovered to a secure location for further examination.
No comments:
Post a Comment