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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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June 20, 1982 · Varieze · N111CH

Roanoke, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 20, 1982
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Roanoke, TX
Aircraft
Varieze
Tail Number
N111CH
Operator
Charles E Hammond
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW82FPD13

About 5 min after takeoff, the pilot initiated a high speed low pass over the airport. When the aircraft was about 1000 ft from the airport at about 100 ft AGL, the right winglet separated. A witness estimated that the aircraft's speed was about 200 mph. Subsequently, the plane rolled inverted and crashed. An examination revealed that the winglet was not installed in accordance to the designer's plans. Specifically, the plans called for an 8-ply fiberglass build-up on the outside radius from the lower wing to the outside surface of the winglet. Fiberglass build-up was not incorporated. The designer estimated that it had less than 1/20 of the design strength. At high speed, with zero side slip, there is an inward aerodynamic (bending) load on the winglet that is equivalent to a 15 deg side slip at low speed. This winglet had failed inward. Also, a number of other deviations from the designers plans were noted.

Full Narrative

ABOUT 5 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT INITIATED A HIGH SPEED LOW PASS OVER THE AIRPORT. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 1000 FT FROM THE AIRPORT AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL, THE RIGHT WINGLET SEPARATED. A WITNESS ESTIMATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S SPEED WAS ABOUT 200 MPH. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE ROLLED INVERTED AND CRASHED. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE WINGLET WAS NOT INSTALLED IN ACCORDANCE TO THE DESIGNER'S PLANS. SPECIFICALLY, THE PLANS CALLED FOR AN 8-PLY FIBERGLASS BUILD-UP ON THE OUTSIDE RADIUS FROM THE LOWER WING TO THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF THE WINGLET. FIBERGLASS BUILD-UP WAS NOT INCORPORTED. THE DESIGNER ESTIMATED THAT IT HAD LESS THAN 1/20 OF THE DESIGN STRENGTH. AT HIGH SPEED, WITH ZERO SIDE SLIP, THERE IS AN INWARD AERODYNAMIC (BENDING) LOAD ON THE WINGLET THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO A 15 DEG SIDE SLIP AT LOW SPEED. THIS WINGLET HAD FAILED INWARD. ALSO, A NUMBER OF OTHER DEVIATIONS FROM THE DESIGNERS PLANS WERE NOTED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:20 CDT
Nearest AirportAero Valley (0nm N)
Runway17
Runway Length3500 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftVarieze
Tail NumberN111CH
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorCharles E Hammond
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200 · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 33 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 5 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point18 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data