# Accident 20230722017809A: Alisport Srl SILENT 2 ELECTRO, Wallis, TX, July 22, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 22, 2023, 15:30 local time
- Place: Wallis, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.6216° N, 96.0640° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6216&lon=-96.0640&mi=10
- Aircraft: N64JG, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64JG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Alisport SILENT 2 ELECTRO (registry code 05632RZ, https://openairdocs.org/model/alisport-silent-2-electro) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ALISPORT SRL SILENT 2 ELECTRO
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA319) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230722017809A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PILOT STATED: FINISHING UP A CROSS COUNTRY GLIDER FLIGHT. ON FINAL GLIDE FROM WHARTON TO TE-71. I WAS NOT IN A HURRY AND HAD PLENTY OF ALTITUDE FOR FINAL GLIDE. SET UP GLIDE AT 79 KNOTS, IN THE GREEN, FOR THIS AIRCRAFT AND BEGAN GLIDE AND DECENT FROM 6000 FEET. AT 4000 FEET STRAIGHT AND LEVEL I EXPERIENCED A SEVERE VIBRATION AND SHAKING OF THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO BIRD STRIKE I SAW AND NO SEVERE TURBULANCE.  I THOUGHT TO MYSELF I AM GOING TO SLOW FOR A ELEVATOR FLUTTER BUT I DECIDED TO PULL FULL SPOILERS AND SLOW DOWN. AT 60 KNOTS THE SHAKING STOPPED. I TRIED ALL THE CONTROLS AND THEY WORKED. I SLOWLY INCREASED SPEED AND THE VIBRATION RETURNED SO I PULLED SPOILERS AGAIN AND THE VIOLENT SHAKING STOPPED AGAIN. AT THIS POINT, I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION TO EITHER BLOW THE CANOPY AND BAIL OUT OR CONTINUE. I WAS ONLY ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE FIELD AND STABLE SO I DECIDED I WOULD STABLILIZE THE SHIP AND NOT OVERCONTROL IT AND GLIDE IN. I CALLED THE FIELD AND ANOUNCED I HAD AN EMERGENCY WITH MY PLANE AND I WAS MAKING A STRAIGHT IN TO LANDING. I CALLED TO SEE IF ANY GLIDERS WERE AROUND AND COULD CHECK ME OUT BUT NO ONE WAS CLOSE ENOUGHT. I LANDED AND ROLLED TO A STOP. GOT OUT AND FOUND OUT THEN I HAD STRUCTURE DAMAGE TO THE TAIL BOOM.

I INSPECTED THE GLIDER AND FOUND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE CARBON FIBER STRUCTURE OF THE TAILBOOM ENCOMPASSING 360 DEGREES AROUND THE BOOM IN 2 DIFFERANT AREAS SEPARATED BY APPROX 12 INCHES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN23LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA319), Jul 22, 2023: Alisport Silent 2 Electro (N64JG), Wallis, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the tail boom structure due to cyclic torsion overloading as of a result of flutter in the empennage. The reason for the flutter could not be determined.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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