# NTSB GAA17CA004: Airborne Windsports PTY Edge XT 912 L, N53AW, Fort Valley, GA, October 2, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 2, 2016, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Fort Valley, GA - Coordinates: 32.547779, -83.826942 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5478&lon=-83.8269&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94144 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94144/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94144 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA004 ## Probable cause 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. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wing structure: attach fittings (on wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740/cases.md?model=060003A), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=060003A), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=060003A), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=060003A), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060003A), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual 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, "rounded up" and the left wing "flew up, and the right wing dropped precipitously, as if it stalled." The aircraft swiftly yawed to the right, descended rapidly and the pilot avowed that he responded with a full control deflection. He added that the deflection leveled the aircraft just before impact with the turf, and 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 side over-center 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. Post-impact photographs of the left side over-center washout strut split ring appears to be partially attached, and the right side split ring was not located in the wreckage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53AW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53AW), registered now, S/N XT-912-0182, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBORNE WINDSPORTS PTY LTD EDGE XT 912 L (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L](https://openairdocs.org/model/airborne-windsports-pty-edge-xt-912-l) (registry code 060003A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: XT-912-0182 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 913 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2016 - Departed: GA81, Fort Valley, GA - Destination: GA81, Fort Valley, GA - Airport: GA81, Cameron Field, runway 36, 3,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: serious; private, flight instructor, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,849 total, 1,212 in this make and model, 3,244.1 as pilot in command, 13.6 in the last 90 days, 3.4 in the last 30 days, 0.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KMCN, 12 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 5, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94144. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 490 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453099&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453100&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 631 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453101&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.