MIAMI, FL, USA
UNREG
AMERICAN AEROLIGHTS EAGLE-2
AFTER TAKING OFF FROM A GRASS FIELD, THE 2 PLACE, ULTRALIGHT VEHICLE REMAINED IN A NORMAL RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN. AS THE VEHICLE WAS ON A BASE LEG FOR LANDING, WITNESSES SAW THE RIGHT WING TRAILING EDGE AREA FLUTTER, THEN THE RIGHT WING DROPPED & THE ULTRALIGHT SPIRALED NOSE DOWN & CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE AIRFRAME REVEALED A RIP FROM THE RIGHT REAR INBOARD SAIL AREA. THE RIP ORIGINATED NEAR THE GROMMET & SEAM. ALONG THE 1ST 16 1/2 INCHES OF THE RIP, FROM THE REAR FORWARD, THE THREADS OF THE FABRIC WERE FOUND TO BE FEATHERED. PREVIOUSLY, THE MANUFACTURER HAD RECOMMENDED A MODIFICATION TO THE LEADING EDGE CANARD & THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE SAIL. HOWEVER, THE MODIFICATION WAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED. THE MODIFICATION TO PREVENT A PROBLEM WITH TORN SAILS CONSISTED OF 2 STRIPS OF BASTING & GROMMETS TO REINFORCE THE WING TRAILING EDGE AT THE INBOARD AREAS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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