The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand says an amateur built Van’s Aircraft RV-7 broke up in midair during a January 1, 2018, VFR flight, killing the pilot and passenger. The CAA believes the pilot lost control of the aircraft after possibly conducting an aerobatic maneuver that far exceeded the RV-7′s never-exceed speed (VNE). The aircraft had departed Whangarei aerodrome—about 60 miles north of Auckland—at about midday.
Details Emerge on Breakup of a New Zealand Van’s RV-7
Key Takeaways:
- An amateur-built Van's RV-7 broke up in mid-air on January 1, 2018, killing the pilot and passenger, likely due to the pilot losing control and exceeding the aircraft's never-exceed speed (VNE).
- Flight data recorded the aircraft reaching speeds of 244 knots, significantly above its 200-knot VNE, during maneuvers involving extreme bank angles and rapid pitch changes.
- The structural failure was consistent with rudder flutter and subsequent negative overload of the right wing, a pattern seen in other RV-7 accidents.
- Investigators could not conclusively determine if the pilot (who lacked an aerobatic rating) was intentionally performing aerobatics, experienced spatial disorientation, or misapplied helicopter flight controls, but concluded that aircraft limitations or pilot capabilities were exceeded.
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