KRviator
Well Known Member
ZK-DVS, an RV-7 was involved in a fatal accident 2 years ago. The report has just been published by the NZ CAA, available in PDF format HERE.
In short, it is an exact carbon copy of the Canadian RV-7 accident involving C-GNDY, whose report is available HERE, also in PDF format.
From the NZ report (my bolding)
From the Canadian report:
VAF'ers - Our VNE's are based on flutter, which is based on TAS - NOT KIAS.
Pilots need to learn from the mistakes of others. In aviation, we aren't going to live long enough to make all of them ourselves. We are better than this. We have to be.
In short, it is an exact carbon copy of the Canadian RV-7 accident involving C-GNDY, whose report is available HERE, also in PDF format.
From the NZ report (my bolding)
At approximately 1217 hours, the aircraft entered a high angle of bank (AoB) manoeuvre, achieving 70 degrees AoB. Five seconds later the AoB increased to 130 degrees and the aircraft began to pitch nose-down. During the resulting descent, the indicated airspeed was recorded at 244 knots (kts), which exceeded the aircraft ‘never exceed speed’ (Vne).
Approximately 30 seconds after entering the high AoB manoeuvre, witnesses observed the aircraft break up in flight and then impact terrain approximately three nautical miles southwest of Te Kopuru.
<SNIP>
In-flight breakup occurred as a result of rudder flutter, as the aircraft airspeed exceeded the design limitations
From the Canadian report:
Following a rapid descent (10 560 fpm down, 45° nose-down pitch), the aircraft progressively descended during the manoeuvres to approximately 1690 feet asl (800 feet agl). It reached airspeed of 234 knots before levelling momentarily at 1870 asl. The last EFIS record prior to impact indicated a nose-down pitch of 31°, right bank of 105° and airspeed 181 knots.
<SNIP>
The aircraft encountered either flutter or overstress of some rudder components. Subsequently, the vertical stabilizer and parts of the rudder separated from the empennage during flight. Consequently, the aircraft became uncontrollable resulting in the impact with terrain.
VAF'ers - Our VNE's are based on flutter, which is based on TAS - NOT KIAS.
Pilots need to learn from the mistakes of others. In aviation, we aren't going to live long enough to make all of them ourselves. We are better than this. We have to be.