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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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April 19, 2024 · Bailey-Moyes Dragonfly NO Series · UNREG

Groveland, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 19, 2024
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Groveland, FL
Aircraft
Bailey-Moyes Dragonfly NO Series (2024)
Tail Number
UNREG
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA24LA185

On April 19, 2024, about 1330 eastern daylight time, an unregistered Bailey-Moyes Dragonfly airplane was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Sheets Airport (FA42), Groveland, Florida. The private pilot was fatally injured. The flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. According to witnesses, shortly after takeoff, the airplane climbed to an altitude of 200 to 300 ft before turning east. The airplane’s right wing then folded upward, after which the airplane spiraled downward and impacted the ground about 500 ft east of the departure end of the north-south-oriented landing area. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site reported that an examination of the right lower wing strut and fuselage bulkhead connection revealed that the strut block bolt was not correctly installed and had not been placed through the hole in the strut block during installation. The strut bolt was found still secured to the bulkheads, and the bolt and the hole in the strut block were both undamaged.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s improper installation and inspection of the right lower wing strut attachment bolt, which resulted in the inflight failure of the right wing.

Full Narrative

On April 19, 2024, about 1330 eastern daylight time, an unregistered experimental, amateur-built Bailey-Moyes Dragonfly airplane was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Sheets Airport (FA42), Groveland, Florida. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to witnesses, the airplane departed to the south, climbed to about 200 to 300 ft above ground level, and then turned east. Shortly thereafter, the right wing “folded upward,” and the airplane entered a spiral descent before impacting terrain about 500 ft east of the departure end of the north-south landing area. An FAA inspector examined the wreckage and reported that the right lower wing strut block bolt had been threaded through the fuselage bulkhead and tightened, but did not pass through the hole in the wing strut block, resulting in no connection between the wing strut and the fuselage. The bolt and the wing strut block exhibited no damage (see Figure 1)._ Figure 1. Fuselage connection point with bolt installation as found (Source: FAA) The accident flight was the airplane’s first flight since it was assembled by the pilot. Inspection of the hangar where the airplane was assembled revealed that no assembly checklist or assembly manual was present in the work area. The airplane did not have a data plate installed and had not been inspected by a Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR) or an FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) inspector. No airworthiness certificate or operating limitations had been issued for the airplane.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:30 EDT
Nearest AirportSHEETS (0nm SE)
Runway18/3
Runway Length2000 ft
Runway Width115 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBailey-Moyes Dragonfly NO Series
Tail NumberUNREG
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 582 · Reciprocating · 65
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 71 · Third Class · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind80° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F
Altimeter30.04 inHg
Observation Time13:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data