# NTSB WPR16LA080: North Wing Apache, Queen Creek, AZ, March 5, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Date: March 5, 2016, 20:46 UTC, 13:46 local - Place: Queen Creek, AZ - Coordinates: 33.271667, -111.573608 (estimated) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director, August 28, 2017 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 92808 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR16LA080 - NTSB report (PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92808/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92808 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA080 ## Probable cause A loss of control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the noncertificated pilot’s lack of experience in the aircraft type. ## Findings - Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined - C (probable cause) - Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Total experience w/ equipment-Pilot - F (probable cause) - Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Qualification/certification-Pilot - F (probable cause) - Aircraft-Aircraft handling/service-Maintenance/inspections-Scheduled maint checks-Not inspected ## Analysis The noncertificated pilot reported that, after takeoff in the light sport trike, about 200 ft above ground level, he heard a popping sound and the aircraft yawed to the right. He heard the sound a second time, and the aircraft turned hard to the right. The pilot applied full engine power in an attempt to recover and gain lift in order to deploy the ballistic parachute; however, the aircraft did not recover and subsequently collided with the ground in a nose-down attitude. Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the investigation was unable to determine the cause of the yaw and subsequent loss of control. The pilot was not appropriately certificated, nor did he have any experience flying the accident aircraft make and model. ## Factual narrative On March 5, 2016, about 1346 mountain standard time, an experimental, North Wing Apache, N242WT, weight-shift-control trike, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain following takeoff from a field, southeast of Queen Creek, Arizona. The non-certified pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The aircraft, which was recently purchased, was not yet registered. The pilot was operating the aircraft under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a local personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that after the owner assembled the aircraft, he performed a pre-flight inspection and then accomplished a short test flight to, an altitude of about 10 ft above ground level (agl). Following the successful test flight, with no reported abnormalities, the pilot departed on a subsequent flight. During climb-out, about 200 ft agl, he heard a "popping" sound and the aircraft yawed to the right. The aircraft remained in level flight, but was crabbing with the nose pointed to the right. The aircraft "popped again" and turned hard right. The wing lost lift and the aircraft started to dive to the right. The pilot applied full power in an attempt to recover and gain lift, so he could deploy the ballistic parachute. However, the aircraft did not recover and collided with the ground in a nose down attitude. One witness, stated he observed the aircraft about 200 ft agl, flying straight and level. The engine sounded normal. The aircraft then banked 20° right, and then continued to bank until it reached about 85°. During the turn, a witness heard something snap twice. Subsequently, the aircraft impacted the ground in a nose down attitude. The postaccident examination of the aircraft did not reveal any anomalies that would preclude normal operation. Although a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, did notice a broken rod on the right wing's internal strut sprog assembly, which attached to the leading edge. According to a design expert for the make and model aircraft involved in the accident, the sprog provides a positive twist to the leading edge during zero lift flight; and therefore, would not have been under load during the flight. Additionally, examination of the fracture surfaces of the sprog's assembly and support tubes by the National Transportation Safety Board material laboratory determined that the separation was a result of overload failure, as no corrosion or pre-existing cracks were observed. The investigation was unable to determine the source of the sounds heard during the accident sequence. The owner had purchased the 2-seat aircraft about four days before the accident and had not registered it nor documented a current annual inspection. The pilot was not a certified pilot, but reported 160 hours in single engine aircraft and several hours in single seat weight shift ultralight aircraft. No hours had been accumulated in the makeand model aircraft involved in the accident. ## Sequence of events - Initial climb: Loss of control in flight (defining event) - Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ## Aircraft - Registration: N242WT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N242WT) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH WING APACHE (NO SERIES) - Registry model: Mooney M20TN (registry code 5870227, https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20tn) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental TSIO-550-G (registry code 17401, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-550-g) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4488 - Year built: 2005 - Engines: Rotax 582 CGI - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Departed: Queen Creek, AZ - Destination: Queen Creek, AZ - FAA reports: 20160305007689A (https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160305007689A) (OpenAirDocs) ## Flight crew - Pilot; age 44; hours: 160 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility (statute miles): 45 - Lowest ceiling (ft AGL): 20000 - Temperature (°F): 78.8 ## Docket (6 files) On NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92808 - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (.PDF, 9 pages, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453064&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - NTSB Materials Laboratory Report (.PDF, 2 pages, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453065&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Materials%20Laboratory%20Report-Master.PDF - Aircraft and Engine Examination Report (.PDF, 3 pages, 846 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453066&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20and%20Engine%20Examination%20Report-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (.PDF, 2 pages, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453067&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Record of Email (.PDF, 2 pages, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453068&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email-Master.PDF - Record of Email Final (.PDF, 2 pages, 145 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40453069&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20Final-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.