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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

May 23, 2004 · Bruce Moore Skybolt · N25BM

Altus, OK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 23, 2004
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Altus, OK
Aircraft
Bruce Moore Skybolt
Tail Number
N25BM
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW04LA148

The pilot was performing aerobatic maneuvers when he noticed the fabric on the top right wing was separating and departing the airplane. The pilot reduced the engine power, airspeed, and altitude, and then returned to the airport. Examination of the airplane revealed the wing rib stitching had failed, and approximately 5 feet of the top right wing fabric and approximately 3 feet of the top right wing lower fabric was separated. According to a fabric manufacturer technical bulletin, "When light weight fabric is installed on an aircraft with a high horsepower engine and inadequate fabric forming structural spacing, coating fatigue cracks develop very rapidly...We recommend fabric weighing less than 2.4 [ounces] per [square yard] be used only on aircraft with engines up to 145 [horsepower]." The fabric covering weight on the airplane was 1.7 ounces per square yard, and the airplane was equipped with a 300-horsepower engine.

NTSB Probable Cause

The partial in-flight separation of the wing fabric and rib structure due to an inadequate material installed by the airplane builder.

Full Narrative

On May 23, 2004, approximately 1300 central daylight time, a Bruce Moore Skybolt homebuilt single-engine aerobatic bi-plane, N25BM, sustained substantial damage following a partial in-flight breakup while maneuvering near Altus, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot, who was the registered owner, and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed the Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport (AXS), Altus, Oklahoma, at an unknown time. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who responded to the accident site, the pilot was performing aerobatic maneuvers when he noticed the fabric of the top right wing was separating and departing the airplane. The pilot reduced the engine power, airspeed, and altitude, and then returned to AXS. Examination of the airplane revealed the wing rib stitching had failed, and approximately 5 feet of the top right wing fabric and approximately 3 feet of the top right wing lower fabric was separated. One wing rib was damaged and two trailing edge ribs were separated. The fabric covering weight was 1.7 ounces per square yard. The airplane was equipped with a 300-horsepower Lycoming IO-540 engine. At the time of the accident, the airframe had accumulated approximately 116 total flight hours. The date and time since the last inspection was unknown. According to Poly Fiber Aircraft Coatings Technical Bulletin 89-1D, dated October 1989, Aircraft Fabric Drumming, "When light weight fabric is installed on an aircraft with a high horsepower engine and inadequate fabric forming structural spacing, coating fatigue cracks develop very rapidly...We recommend fabric weighing less than 2.4 [ounces] per [square yard] be used only on aircraft with engines up to 145 [horsepower]...Sometimes fabric is pressed or beat against close underlay structure which causes a crowfoot break in the coatings after 50 to 100 [hours]." Numerous attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) from the pilot were unsuccessful.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:00 CDT
Nearest AirportAltus Municipal (0nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBruce Moore Skybolt
Tail NumberN25BM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-D4A5 · Reciprocating · 300
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 60 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point36 C
Altimeter29.72 inHg
Observation Time17:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data