NTSB Investigator Finds Evidence Of Metal Fatigue

NTSB Investigator Alex Lemishko says he's found evidence of a possible stress fracture in the front wing spar of a T-34 that crashed in Texas last week. The Beechcraft trainer was flown by Texas Air Aces' founder Don Wylie when it lost a wing. The aircraft went down in a wooded area near Lake Conroe. Witnesses say the T-34's right wing separated from the aircraft while it was in a spin.

Wylie, 64, and William Eisenhauer, Jr., were killed. Eisenhauer was a pilot for Airborne Express based in Ohio.

The Houston Chronicle reports Lemishko still has to review the records of the leased T-34. But Texas Air Aces' Ed Johnson says the company has complied with all ADs regarding the T-34.

AD 2001-13-18 was made effective after a 1999 Georgia crash under circumstances very similar to those in Texas last Wednesday. In both cases, the aircraft was being used to simulate dog fighting with another aircraft.

The AD itself says:

NOTE:  Neither the T-34 nor the Baron Type Certificate specifies a fatigue safe life for the wing.  However, because of the nature of the T-34 wing failure, it is necessary to determine a fatigue safe life of its front spar.  For used spars, this must include a determination of the front spar fatigue damage accumulated while used on a Baron.

Texas Air Aces and its sister company, Aviation Safety Training -- both founded by Wylie -- fly a fleet of six T-34 aircraft. Johnson says all six have been inspected in accordance with the AD. He says one aircraft is now undergoing spar replacement.

Lemishko tells the Chronicle the NTSB doesn't plan to ground any T-34s at this time. If any action is taken, he indicated it would come on the heels of the NTSB's preliminary report in January.

The FAA Preliminary Report

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 44KK        Make/Model: T34       Description: BEECH T34A
  Date: 11/19/2003     Time: 1616

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    ing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: CONROE                      State: TX   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  AIRCRAFT CRASHED WHILE PERFORMING MANEUVERS, TWO PERSONS ON BOARD WERE
  FATALLY INJURED, AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, CONROE, TX

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   2
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:    1     Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:           Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: CXO 1546 UTC WIND 360@10 VIS10 SKY CLR 19/02 3026                          
                                                                                    
                                                        

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Business      Phase: Maneuver      Operation: General Aviation

  Departed: HOUSTON, TX                 Dep Date: 11/19/2003   Dep. Time: 1534
  Destination: LOCAL AREA               Flt Plan: UNK          Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: IAH 326/31
  Last Clearance: FREQ CHANGE APPD

  FAA FSDO: HOUSTON, TX  (SW09)                   Entry date: 11/20/2003

FMI: www.ntsb.gov