# NTSB CHI08CA087: Cessna 140, N3527V, Poplar Grove, IL, February 23, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 23, 2008, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Poplar Grove, IL - Coordinates: 42.322776, -88.836112 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3228&lon=-88.8361&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 67625 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67625/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA087 ## Probable cause The left wing skin "fabric patch" separated from the wing ribs and spars for an undetermined reason. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wing structure: plates/skins (on wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035730): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035730/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035730/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that he was in a steep right turn when he heard a "thump" which seemed to come from the tail section of the airplane. He leveled the wings and realized that he was "holding extreme right rudder with the pedal depressed to about three-fourths of its full travel." The CFI flew back to the airport that was 10 miles away. During the final approach to landing, the CFI flew the tai wheel-equipped airplane to within 6 - 12 inches of the runway and let the airspeed bleed off prior to touchdown. He reported that he ran out of right rudder just as all three wheels touched down. The inspection of the airplane revealed that a large section of the left wing's fabric had separated from the airplane. Nine wing ribs plus the main and rear spars from wing station 58 to wing station 176 were visible as a result of the missing wing fabric. A review of the maintenance records indicated that on October 16, 2000, the left wing was repaired and a "fabric patch" was used to repair the wing's fabric. ## Factual narrative The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that he was in a steep right turn when he heard a "thump" which seemed to come from the tail section of the airplane. He leveled the wings and realized that he was "holding extreme right rudder with the pedal depressed to about three-fourths of its full travel." The CFI flew back to the airport that was 10 miles away. During the final approach to landing, the CFI flew the tail wheel equipped airplane to within 6 - 12 inches of the runway and let the airspeed bleed off prior to touchdown. He reported that he ran out of right rudder just as all three wheels touched down. The inspection of the airplane revealed that a large section of the left wing's fabric had separated from the airplane. Nine wing ribs plus the main and rear spars from wing station 58 to wing station 176 were visible as a result of the missing wing fabric. A review of the maintenance records indicated that on October 16, 2000, the left wing was repaired and a "fabric patch" was used to repair the wing's fabric. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3527V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3527V), registered now, S/N 14796, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14796 - Airframe hours: 4418 - Engines: Continental C90 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Poplar Grove Airmotive - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2007, 41 hours before - Departed: C77, Poplar Grove, IL - Airport: C77, Poplar Grove Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 1,400 total, 200 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20080223838839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080223838839A), Feb 23, 2008: Cessna 140, Poplar Grove, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) During a checkout in the Cessna 140 the certified flight instuctor was performing steep turns to the right and heard a noise, he rolled out and noticed… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.