- Date
- July 2, 1983, 12:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place
- Ernul, NC
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- UNREGAirmass Sunburst Model B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 5980
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt was en route from ayden, NC, where he purchased the ultralight, to his home in havelock, NC. While en route, he had landed at Ernul, NC to refuel. After refueling, he took off, circled back over the field, then added power & began to climb. At about that time, the left wing folded up from the root, and subsequently, the ultralight impacted the ground in a steep nose-down attitude. An investigation revealed that both left wing flying wires (cables) had separated where they were routed over thimbles for attachment to the hang cage. The nicopress sleeve (swedge fitting) on one of the cables had been installed over the plastic coating on the cable, rather than directly on the cable.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Airmass Sunburst Model B (SUNBURST M)
- Category
- Ultralight, amateur-built
- Airframe hours
- 10
- Engine
- Cuyuna 430R, 30 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 103
- Registered owner
- Daniel E. Howard
- Destination
- Havelock, NC
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown, Unknown
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 10 total · 10 in this make and model · 10 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 225° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- None