Structural Failure In-Flight: About As Serious As It Gets...

No one has to tell you that there are a few instances in aviation when the pucker factor is at an all-time high... and a structural failure is pretty close to the top of the list. There is a reason why most aerobats wear a chute (and should)... and that is the result of the more extensive stresses and forces involved in aerobatic flight... and the possibility that a small problem or failure can progress to a much larger one. In this case, the pilot made the solid decision that trying further flight in a compromised airplane was not smart and elected to air out his chute. Smart.

NTSB Identification: WPR11LA459
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, September 19, 2011 in Greenleaf, ID
Aircraft: MCARTHUR STEEN SKYBOLT, registration: N77VW
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

From The NTSB Prelim: On September 19, 2011, about 1315 mountain daylight time, a McArthur Steen Skybolt, N77VW, collided with terrain following an uncontrolled descent near Greenleaf, Idaho. The pilot was operating the experimental amateur-built airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The airline transport pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. The local flight departed Caldwell, Idaho, about 1255. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot was performing an aerobatic routine in a practice area. He completed the routine uneventfully, and elected to perform it a second time. During the initial dive, he began to level the airplane, and observed the outboard trailing edge section of the upper left wing fail. He observed canvas material in trail from the aft spar, and could not see any wing ribs attached to the spar. He regained partial control of the airplane, but elected to bail out a short time later. The airplane subsequently rolled inverted, and began a near-vertical descent into a field.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov