# NTSB DEN93LA077: Weedhopper B, Port Arthur, TX, July 11, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1993, 17:39 local (22:39 UTC)
- Place: Port Arthur, TX
- Coordinates: 29.889104, -93.920448 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8891&lon=-93.9204&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18299
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN93LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18299/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN93LA077

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE WING FABRIC AND WING SPAR.  FACTORS WERE:  THE IMPROPER DESIGN CHANGE, MAJOR REPAIR, AND REBUILDING OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - reason for occurrence undetermined
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - wing,skin - separation (cause)
  - wing,spar - failure,total (cause)
  - maintenance,design change - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,major repair - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,major alteration - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE UNREGISTERED AIRPLANE WAS SEEN TO MAKE A HARD LEFT TURN AND ENTER A VERTICAL DIVE FROM AN ALTITUDE OF BETWEEN 100 AND 150 FEET.  AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 75 FEET, THE FABRIC SEPARATED FROM THE RIGHT WING AND THE WING FAILED.  POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE RUDDER CONTROL CABLE WAS FRAYED, HAD BROKEN, AND WAS OF THE WRONG SIZE.  THE WING FABRIC WAS DETERIORATED, HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY PATCHED, WAS OF THE WRONG TYPE AND WEIGHT, AND BORE SPANWISE TEARS.  THE WING SPAR HAD FAILED AT A POINT WHERE PREVIOUS REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE.  ADDITIONALLY, THE WING RIBS WERE OF THE WRONG TYPE.  THE PILOT HAD CONVERTED WHAT HAD BEEN A SINGLE PLACE ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE INTO A TWO PLACE AIRPLANE BY USING PARTS FROM WRECKED ULTRALIGHTS, CAUSING THE EMPTY WEIGHT TO EXCEED THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: WEEDHOPPER B
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: Bombardier 532 64 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Nowell, Charles C. Sr.
- Registered owner: Nowell, Charles C. Sr.
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: NONE
- Destination: NONE
- Airport: NONE, Pleasure Island

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none

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.

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