ANDOVER, MA, USA
N2343
BREEZY RL4-1
DURING FLT THE PLT FELT SOMETHING SNAP OR BREAK ON THE ACFT. THE CONTROL WHEEL MOVEMENT FOR THE AILERON BECAME EXCEEDINGLY HARDER TO MOVE & THE ACFT STARTED TO FLUTTER IN AN UP & DOWN MOTION. HE REDUCED POWER TO SLOW THE FLUTTERINGACTION, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE ON A GOLF COURSE & THE ACFT ROLLED INTO A SAND TRAP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE UPPER LEFT LONGERON LOCATED NEAR THE REAR PLT'S SEAT WAS BROKEN & THE TUBING SPLIT. IT HAD FAILED JUST BEHIND THE REAR SEAT AT THE TUBING CLUSTER WELD. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE REAR EDGE OF THE CLUSTER WELD IN THE AREA WHICH SHOWED THE MOST HEAT PENETRATION OF THE BASE METAL THEN PROGRESSING AROUND THE TUBE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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