Airborne Windsports EDGE XT 912 L N53AW

Summary

On 2 October 2016 at about 22:30 local time, a Airborne Windsports EDGE XT 912 L registered N53AW was involved in an accident near Fort Valley, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 October 2016 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Valley, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Cameron Field (GA81)

Coordinates

32.5478, -83.8269

Aircraft

Airborne Windsports EDGE XT 912 L

Registration

N53AW

Year built

2008

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Valley → Fort Valley

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA004

1 person was seriously injured.

The failure of the aircraft’s right overcenter washout strut split ring, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain lateral control of the aircraft and subsequent ground impact.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the flight instructor in the weight-shift-control aircraft, he made two low approaches and two go-arounds to runway 36. He reported that, during the third approach, he crossed the runway threshold and "rounded up" and that the left wing "flew up, and the right wing dropped precipitously, as if it stalled." The aircraft swiftly yawed to the right and descended rapidly, and the pilot stated that he responded with a full control deflection. He added that the deflection leveled the aircraft just before impact with the turf and that the aircraft heading was about 35° to 50° right of the runway heading. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to both wings and the airframe. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector examined the aircraft wreckage and was unable to locate the right overcenter washout strut spilt ring. The split ring connects the washout strut and the leading edge of the right wing spar, which allows the pilot to manipulate the aircraft's directional control. In postimpact photographs of the left side overcenter washout strut split ring, it appears to be partially attached, and the right side split ring was not located in the wreckage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.