Pzl-Mielec M-18A N81548

Summary

On 21 September 2000 at about 15:15 local time, a Pzl-Mielec M-18A registered N81548 was involved in an accident near Jacksonville, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 September 2000 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Jacksonville, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

34.8592, -92.1203

Aircraft

Pzl-Mielec M-18A

Registration

N81548

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dumas → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW00LA267

1 person had minor injuries.

the corrosion and fatigue cracking of the right wing attachment fitting, which resulted in the right wing separating in flight. A factor was the failure of the operator to perform the recommended wing attachment fitting inspection.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was initiating a spray run over a field when he heard a loud pop. The pilot stated that the airplane started to roll and pitch nose down. The airplane impacted the ground, coming to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing separated in-flight. The right outboard wing section's forward lower attachment fitting separated as a result of fatigue cracking. The fatigue cracking was a result of severe corrosion pitting in the bore of the central lug of the fitting. The right side lower expansion mandrel and bolt were found void of grease or anti-corrosive material. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated a total of 5,898.6 hours. There was no indication in the aircraft maintenance records that the recommended 3,000-hour wing attachment fitting inspection had been conducted. The service life limit of the airplane was 6,000 hours only if the 3,000-hour inspection had been completed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.