Pilot Successfully Used Ballistic Parachute

The NTSB has released its preliminary report for an incident in which an Urban Air SRO UFM-13 Lambada went down after apparently beginning to break up in mid air. The pilot successfully deployed the aircraft's ballistic parachute, and was uninjured.

File Photo

The report from the NTSB reads:

NTSB Identification: CEN09LA379
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, June 23, 2009 in San Antionio, TX
Aircraft: Urban Air SRO UFM-13, registration: N17UA
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

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 June 23, 2009, approximately 1249 central daylight time, an Urban Air SRO, UFM-13 Lambada light sport aircraft, N17UA, registered to San Antonio Light Sport Aircraft, Inc., experienced an in-flight break-up. The personal flight was operated under provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual flight conditions prevailed at the time of occurrence. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged.

File Photo

The pilot stated he was in level cruise flight at 3,500 feet when the airplane began to shake violently. He immediately reduced power and the nose of the airplane pitched downward to near vertical. The pilot deployed the emergency ballistic parachute. Radar data indicates that at the time of the accident the airplane's ground speed was 120 knots. Examination of the airplane revealed that the empennage had separated from the fuselage and remained attached via control cables.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov