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 Aircraft RV-7 broke up mid-flight on January 1, 2018, killing two, with investigators believing the pilot lost control after maneuvers exceeded the aircraft's never-exceed speed (VNE).
- EFIS data revealed the aircraft underwent extreme attitudes and speeds up to 244 knots, significantly above its 200-knot VNE, despite the pilot not holding an aerobatic rating.
- Wreckage analysis, consistent with other RV-7 accidents, indicated the breakup was due to structural failure from rudder flutter caused by overstress, rather than a definitive probable cause.
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