What was found
AVID AIRCRAFT LIFT STRUT, THREADED ROD-END FAILURE. THE PILOT OF AN AVID AIRCRAFT LOST CONTROL SHORTLY AFTER TAKE-OFF AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED INTO THE GROUND IN AN UNCOMMANDED LEFT-HAND TURN CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME. THE PILOT RECALLS HEARING A SHARP CRACK SHORTLY BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE GOVT.AAIB METALLURGIST HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE PORT REAR LIFT STRUT THREADED ROD-END MAY HAVE FAILED BEFORE THE IMPACT. THIS WOULD FIT WITH THE SHARP CRACK NOISE AND THE ROLL TO THE LEFT. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF LONG-TERM FATIGUE OR CORROSION DAMAGE AND THE MATERIAL’S HARDNESS STATE PROVED CORRECT. HOWEVER PRE-ACCIDENT DAMAGE TO THE ROD END CANNOT BE RULED OUT. IN PARTICULAR, THE ROD-END MAY