As the investigation into last month’s wing separation on a Piper Arrow near Daytona Beach continues, the National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday issued an update that points to a number of wing fractures. The PA28R-201 was owned and operated by Embry-Riddle Aeronautic University as a Part 91 instructional aircraft at the time of the accident.
NTSB Uncovers Clues Related to Piper In-Flight Breakup
Key Takeaways:
- The NTSB's update on a fatal Piper Arrow crash near Daytona Beach, involving a wing separation, indicates extensive metal fatigue as a significant factor.
- More than 80 percent of the left wing's lower spar cap exhibited fatigue fractures originating near an attachment bolt hole, with similar cracks found in the right wing and another comparable training aircraft.
- The fatigue was discovered in high-cycle aircraft used for flight instruction, prompting the development of new inspection procedures by Piper Aircraft.
- Investigators are also researching a 1987 wing separation on a similar Piper Archer for relevant information, though no probable cause has been assigned yet.
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