Pilot Debrief

Chech Aircraft Works SPOL SRO CH 601 XL RTF near Polk City, FL — 2008-04-07

Final reportNYC08FA158
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Date
2008-04-07
Location
Polk City, FL, USA
Aircraft
Chech Aircraft Works SPOL SRO CH 601 XL RTF
Registration
N357DT
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1

Probable cause

The in-flight failure of the left wing for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

After stopping for fuel, the pilot departed for the second leg of a cross-country flight. About 45 minutes after departing, witnesses observed the special light sport airplane banking and yawing before one of its wings "folded up" and the airplane descended to the ground. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left wing had failed in an upward (or positive) direction due to a fracture of the lower left wing spar chord. The subsequent overload failure of the wing resulted in a loss of control of the airplane. Metallurgical examination did not reveal any evidence of preexisting conditions or design or material deficiencies that may have contributed to the in-flight structural failure.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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