# NTSB WPR10LA353: Topdog Ultralights TOP DOG 582, N82047, Eagle Point, OR, July 16, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2010, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Eagle Point, OR - Coordinates: 42.537776, -122.728889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5378&lon=-122.7289&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 76658 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA353 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76658/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76658 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA353 ## Probable cause The separation of the left wingtip. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wing structure: flight surfaces (wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035750): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Topdog Ultralights TOP DOG 582, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035750/cases.md?model=0590050), [All aircraft, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035750/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [Topdog Ultralights TOP DOG 582, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=0590050), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Topdog Ultralights TOP DOG 582, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0590050), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, the weight-shift-control aircraft turned sharply to the left, impacted bushes and terrain, and came to rest in a creek. Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed that the left wingtip had separated in flight, which resulted in the uncommanded left turn. The reason for the wingtip separation could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2010, about 0800 Pacific daylight time, a light sport aircraft experimental weight-shift-control TopDog Ultralights Top Dog 582 (trike), N82047, was substantially damaged during takeoff near Eagle Point, Oregon. The pilot received serious injuries and the pilot rated passenger received minor injuries. The owner operated the personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed. According to the passenger, he and the pilot were co-owners of the trike. Shortly after takeoff from a grass strip, the trike drifted to the left of the grass strip and into tall bushes. The trike came to rest in a creek, adjacent to the runway. The right wing was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. In a written statement submitted by the pilot, after takeoff the trike turned sharply to the left, impacted bushes, and then terrain. During recovery of the trike, it was discovered that the left wingtip had separated from the trike and was located away from the main wreckage. The separation was not associated with impact damage. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector with extensive experience in weight-shift aircraft, the wingtip will separate because it is not installed correctly or because it came loose. He stated that after the wingtip separates, lift is lost from that side of the trike, and the trike experiences control difficulties thereafter. The actual reason for the wingtip separation was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82047](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82047), registered now, S/N A49TDA, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TOPDOG ULTRALIGHTS TOP DOG 582 - Registry model: [Topdog Ultralights TOP DOG 582](https://openairdocs.org/model/topdog-ultralights-top-dog-582) (registry code 0590050) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: A49TDA - Airframe hours: 349 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sayner George H - Registered owner: Sayner George H - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 2009, 189 hours before - Departed: Eagle Point, OR - Destination: Eagle Point, OR - Airport: Private grass strip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; private, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review January 17, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 408 total, 249 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: MFR, 8 nm away ## 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 20100716039339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100716039339A), Jul 16, 2010: Topdog Ultr TOP DOG 582, Eagle Point, OR, Substantial damage. Experimental weight shift aircraft was taking off in no wind conditions with a pilot and one passenger onboard. Unable to interview pilot due to injuries at… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76658. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370575&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Evans July (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370820&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Evans%20July-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Evans (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370821&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Evans-Master.PDF - Record of conversation - Michaels (item 4, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370823&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20conversation%20-%20Michaels-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.