Maxfly Inc/McKay Wm SEAREY N914WM

Summary

On 11 April 2013 at about 19:30 local time, a Maxfly Inc/McKay Wm SEAREY registered N914WM, operated by Fly Away Inc, was involved in an accident near Polk City, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 April 2013 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Polk City, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Orlampa Incorporated Airport (FA08)

Coordinates

28.1667, -81.4839

Aircraft

Maxfly Inc/McKay Wm SEAREY

Registration

N914WM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Fly Away Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Polk City → Polk City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA13LA199

1 person had minor injuries.

The improper installation of incorrect attachment hardware by maintenance personnel during an undocumented repair, which resulted in an in-flight structural failure and subsequent loss of aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the covering of the inspection port during the undocumented repair, which made it impossible for pilots or mechanics to inspect the attachment hardware for problems.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the amateur-built amphibian airplane performed normally during taxi operations and takeoff from the surface of the lake. About 100 feet above the lake, the pilot heard a "loud bang or crashing sound," and the airframe then twisted. The airplane entered an uncontrolled, spiraling descent until it contacted the water. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right/forward wing strut joint was disconnected from the leading edge and that the attachment bolts were fractured. Further examination revealed that the bolts were installed after the airplane's original assembly and that they were shorter than the prescribed bolts and had been installed opposite the prescribed direction, which likely resulted in fatigue cracking and the eventual shearing of the bolts during the accident flight. Further examination of the wreckage revealed that the inspection port for the right wing strut attachment area had been covered during a previous, undocumented repair, which made it difficult for pilots or maintenance personnel to inspect the attachment hardware.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.