MX and Wings Mods Being Investigated
You can rarely overdo the process of checking up on an airframe
after maintenance... and while there are some pretty ponderous
questions over what occurred in this fatal accident, the fact that
it took place while checking up after recent maintenance does
create some suspicions. We look forward to the final report
on this accident.
NTSB Identification: ERA12FA052
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, October 29, 2011 in Homestead, FL
Aircraft: INTERPLANE S R O SKYBOY, registration: N58784
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may
contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
On October 29, 2011, about 1022 eastern standard time, an
experimental light sport aircraft (E-LSA), Czech Republic,
Interplane SRO Skyboy, airplane, N58784, registered and operated by
an individual, incurred substantial damaged from ground impact at
Richards Field Airport (04FA), Miami, Florida. Both pilots on board
were killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time
and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from
the same airport earlier that day, about 0940.
Witnesses stated that the pilot had performed mechanical work on
the airplane during the weeks prior to the accident flight. Earlier
that morning he conducted a maintenance test flight, which included
several touch and goes and stalls. The airplane had vortex
generators installed on the wings as part of the maintenance work.
There was a second pilot that was assisting the test flight pilot
with the maintenance efforts on the airplane. During the initial
test flight she remained on the ground with a radio monitoring the
test flight progress. There were no abnormalities identified during
this test flight. The pilot landed. The assisting pilot and the
test flight pilot both got into the airplane to go fly. The
airplane was in the air for about thirty to forty minutes
conducting touch and goes, stalls, and air work in the vicinity of
the private airstrip. Witnesses observed the airplane flying at
slow speed in a north east direction, at an estimated altitude of
300 feet above ground level. As the airplane approach the airport
it was observed entering a spin in a near full nose down attitude.
The airplane completed three spins before it impacted the ground
Witnesses made comments that the engine was running during the
flight including the spin.
A global position system (GPS) unit, which was recovered among
the wreckage, and a flight control component were retained by NTSB
for further examination.