Unbelieveable Collision Comes Out Safely... Sorta

A deHavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk, reportedly the oldest such example of the breed and a favorite among aerobatic pilots with classic tastes, has been involved in a bizarre airshow accident in which its right wing was nearly torn from the airframe after colliding with an antenna positioned within the airshow active flight area confines.

Social media and Argentinian media sources confirm that no harm came to the pilot, but pix of the airframe after it managed a landing suggest that the wing was severely compromised and that the pilot was lucky to recover the aircraft more or less intact... sorta. The  deHavilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk (LV-NRY) aircraft hit the antenna 'while conducting an airshow during festival Bragado Vuela for the 75th anniversary of the Aeroclub, Argentina on 5th November.'

The aircraft flew through the area occupied by the antenna, struck it with the right wing and though it appeared that the right wing was severely compromised and was pulled away from its root, a great deal, it stayed attached long enough for the pilot to execute a somewhat safe landing. Other Media reports suggest that some of the debris may have struck as many as four spectators but that injuries were, thankfully, minor. The after effects show the right wing tip pretty much absent, much of the outboard portion of the aileron torn away from the body of the wing and a seriously disturbing gap at the wing root, showing that the wing's contact with the poorly positioned antenna pulled it back and away from the fuselage... though it did hold on -- somehow.

We want this pilot's rabbit's foot....

FMI: www.bragado.gov.ar/bragado-vuela-se-disfruta-en-la-ciudad/