Endless Skies L164 N2627J

Summary

On 11 September 2006 at about 14:15 local time, a Endless Skies L164 registered N2627J was involved in an accident near Durand, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 September 2006 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Durand, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

42.9110, -83.9810

Aircraft

Endless Skies L164

Registration

N2627J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Howell → Bismarck

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI06LA260

Nobody was injured.

The kit builder's improper installation of the aileron bracket leading to the aileron flutter during cruise that resulted in the wing spars' failure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The experimental amateur-built airplane sustained substantial damage when a wing spar failed during cruise. The pilot executed a forced landing to a nearby field. The airplane had accumulated 40.6 hours of flight time. The pilot's accident report, in part, stated, "When the aircraft reached 135 MPH indicated and was at that airspeed for a minute or two in calm stable air it suddenly developed an aileron flutter. Both ailerons fluttered. ... [The passenger] noticed the flutter before [the pilot] because the stick did not shake. The flutter started at the trailing edge of the wing and progressively got worse. Wing tips traveled 4 to 5 [inches] up [and] down. [The pilot] saw the right wing fail in an up position. The flutter stopped at approx 120 MPH. The nearest airport was 8.5 miles away. That was too far away. [The pilot] elected to land in a farmer's field straight ahead before we experienced further wing failure." An on-scene examination revealed that the aileron hinge brackets were not attached to the ailerons as depicted in the kit drawings for the airplane. This airplane kit's aileron hinge brackets were not pre-drilled by the kit manufacturer. Subsequent to the accident, the kit manufacturer issued a service bulletin (SB). That SB, in part, stated, "As of January 2004, Parts L370 R & L are delivered to customer pre-drilled for bolt holes as per attached drawing. Compliance method: Customers who have received the above parts un-drilled should note that the center to center distances of the bolt holes are critical. Particularly those which are for the bolts holding the assembly to the aileron spars. The attached drawing dimensions must be respected."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.