# NTSB WPR22LA183: Pyka Pelican, N605PK, Winters, CA, May 14, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 14, 2022, 12:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Winters, CA · open farm field - Coordinates: 38.599861, -121.97961 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5999&lon=-121.9796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 105109 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105109/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105109 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA183 ## Probable cause Delamination of the uncrewed aircraft systems’ right wing skin surfaces from the wing spar that resulted in a spin and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wing structure: plates/skins (on wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035730): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure; cases with it: [Pyka PELICAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035730/cases.md?model=0610173), [All aircraft, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035730/cases.md) - [Wing structure: flight surfaces (wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035750): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Pyka PELICAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035750/cases.md?model=0610173), [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. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Pyka PELICAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=0610173), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337); cases with it: [Pyka PELICAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=0610173), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator of the uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) reported that, during a demonstration flight at a company event, the UAS made a left turn and the right wing skin, along with the flaps and ailerons, separated from the UAS. He further reported that, after separating the wing skins opened and floated behind the UAS as it rolled right, spun, and impacted terrain. Substantial damage was identified to the entire UAS, to include the fuselage, both wings, and empennage Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right-wing skin had delaminated/separated from the wing spar consistent with a failed bond between the wing skin and wing spar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N605PK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N605PK), registered now, S/N 16056PS0025 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PYKA INC PELICAN (7) - Registry model: [Pyka PELICAN](https://openairdocs.org/model/pyka-pelican) (registry code 0610173) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, unmanned - Serial number: 16056PS0025 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 9.5 - Engines: Sunray DT13855 electric; Sunray DT13855 electric; Sunray DT13855 electric; Sunray DT13855 electric - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pyka Inc, doing business as Pyka Inc - Registered owner: Pyka Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Other - Last inspection: Condition, February 28, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display, Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; private, remote; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 21, 2019; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 60 total, 16.6 as pilot in command - Other flight crew; injuries: none; medical: unknown; seat: none; restraint: none ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KEDU, 10 nm away - METAR: KEDU 141855Z AUTO 36008KT 320V040 10SM CLR 26/08 A3009 RMK AO1 ## 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 20220514021379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220514021379A), May 14, 2022: Pelican 7 UAV, Uwinters, CA, Substantial damage. Received report of UAV accident in winters California. Investigation revealed UAV had 38 foot wingspan and weighed over 600 lbs. UAV pilot revealed that the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105109. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 614 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14070790&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA183%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14033778&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA summary of findings (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14035081&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Summary%20of%20Findings-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14049268&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=wreckage%20release_Redacted-Rel.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.