ZEELAND, MI, USA
N534AA
SHEATS FALCON-XP
THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE WAS UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE FLIGHT TESTS AFTER 2 1/2 YEARS OF STORAGE. DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT FROM TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND LEFT HAND BANK. THE LEFT WING, FOLLOWED BY THE NOSE, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. A WITNESS REPORTED OBSERVING A PORTION OF THE LEFT WING'S MYLAR COVERING STANDING UP ON THE WING DURING THE FLIGHT. AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TAPE HOLDING THE MYLAR WING COVERING DOWN HAD PEELED OFF THE LEFT WING'S LEADING EDGE.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 22, 1993 at 1230 EDT, a home built Falcon-XP, N534AA took off from a private air strip near Zeeland, Michigan. Shortly after lift-off, the covering on the upper left wing detached and started to peel back resulting in loss of lift and uncontrolled descent into the ground. INJURIES TO PERSONS The private pilot and owner of the aircraft received minor injuries. DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT Substantial damage resulted from ground contact. The fuselage collapsed forward of the wing, nose gear folded into fuselage, the wings and tail were distorted. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The wing covering of transparent Mylar, was held onto the aluminum leading edge with tape. The tape peeled off the upper left wing causing a loose flapping covering. The wreckage was released to the owner R.W. Thorpe on August 23, 1993.
an inadequate maintenance inspection by the pilot/owner and the separation of the wing skin.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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