MOUNT VERNON, TX, USA
N494CB
PIPER J3C-65
THE OWNER/PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT WITH A POTENTIAL BUYER. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, WITNESSES AT THE AIRPORT OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT WING FOLD REARWARD AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCEND UNCONTROLLED. THE RIGHT WING FORWARD LIFT STRUT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE LOWER FUSELAGE ATTACHMENT CLEVIS BOLT. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE LIFT STRUT'S THREADED BARREL REVEALED THAT THE BOTTOM 1-1/4 INCH WAS MISSING MOST OF ITS THREADED CROWNS; AREA COVERED WITH CORROSION RESIDUES. TOP 3/4 INCH THREADS PARTIALLY DETERIORATED BY CORROSION. ENTIRE LENGTH OF BOLT HOLE DRY; LACKED LINSEED OIL COATING. OTHER STRUTS THREADED HOLES WET. AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN REBUILT BY A&E AND A&I MECHANICS; ANNUAL SIGNED OFF DAY BEFORE ACCIDENT.
INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE MECHANICS WHO REBUILT THE AIRPLANE, IN THAT THEY FAILED TO DETECT AND/OR CORRECT THE CORRODED LIFT STRUT WHICH RESULTED IN WING FAILURE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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