# NTSB WPR10LA275: Airborne Windsports PTY Edge X, N354MB, Alturas, CA, June 2, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 1, 2010, 19:00 local (Jun 2, 2010, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Alturas, CA - Coordinates: 41.483055, -120.565277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4831&lon=-120.5653&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76193 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA275 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76193/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76193 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA275 ## Probable cause Fracture of a mast support cable due to corrosion, which resulted in a loss of control during the landing roll. ## 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 · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740/cases.md?model=05902WV), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05902WV), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05902WV), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05902WV), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot were performing touch-and-go and full stop landings. The CFI reported that during the final landing roll at 30 miles per hour, the wing rolled severely to the left, and struck the ground. The wing crumpled, and dug into the surface rolling the airplane onto its left side. Postaccident examination revealed that the right rear mast support cable fractured about 3 inches above its lower attachment point where the cable enters a swedge. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and confirmed the break to the cable and also noted that there appeared to be some bluish green corrosion on the copper compression swedge. ## Factual narrative On June 1, 2010, about 1900 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Airborne Windsports PTY LTD Edge X, N354MB, collided with terrain during landing at Alturas, California. The student pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The student pilot sustained minor injuries, and the certified flight instructor (CFI) was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing and wire support bracing. The local instructional flight departed Alturas about 1800. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The CFI stated that the student had been practicing touch-and-go landings, and this was to be a final full stop landing. The airplane touched down safely, and was rolling straight at 30 miles per hour. Suddenly and without warning, the wing rolled severely to the left, and struck the ground. The wing crumpled, and dug into the surface. The airplane rolled onto its left side, and skidded to a stop on the runway. The CFI then shut off the ignition, magnetos, and fuel valve. The CFI indicated that post flight examination revealed that the right rear mast support cable snapped about 3 inches above its lower attachment point. This was at a point where the cable enters a swedge. The cable is covered by the manufacturer with an opaque plastic cover, similar to shrink tubing. He stated that they observed no discrepancies on the cables, welds, engine, wing, suspension, or other components during preflight. They had completed about 12 landings during the day with no indications of a potential problem. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage, and observed that the right mast to landing gear support cable was broken at the copper compression swedge. There appeared to be some bluish green corrosion on the swedge. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N354MB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N354MB-2021-01-30), registration cancelled 2021-01-30, S/N 582-912, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Airborne Windsports PTY LTD Edge X - Registry model: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE X](https://openairdocs.org/model/airborne-windsports-pty-edge-x) (registry code 05902WV) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 582-912 - Airframe hours: 188 - Engines: Rotax 582 64 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas Parnow - Registered owner: Thomas Parnow - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 27, 2009 - Departed: AAT, Alturas, CA - Destination: AAT, Alturas, CA - Airport: AAT, Alturas, runway 31, 4,377 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 43; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 11, 2009; seat: rear; flight hours: 3,212 total, 38 in this make and model, 2,805 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; student; medical: sport pilot, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 38 total, 38 in this make and model, 38 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KAAT ## 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 20100601005129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100601005129A), Jun 1, 2010: Airborne Wi EDGE X, Alturus, CA, Substantial damage. This information was provided to the reporting inspector via email on 6/2/2010 by [privacy data omitted] (PIC), PIC was instructing [privacy data omitted] on… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 12, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76193. 574 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 565 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347045&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Report (item 2, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347046&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Report-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.