Pyka PELICAN N605PK

Summary

On 14 May 2022 at about 19:15 local time, a Pyka PELICAN registered N605PK, operated by Pyka Inc, was involved in an accident near Winters, California, United States. Nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 May 2022 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Winters, California, United States

Coordinates

38.5999, -121.9796

Aircraft

Pyka PELICAN

Registration

N605PK

Category

Airplane

Year built

2022

Engines

4

Operator

Pyka Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22LA183

Nobody was injured.

Delamination of the uncrewed aircraft systems’ right wing skin surfaces from the wing spar that resulted in a spin and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The operator of the uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) reported that, during a demonstration flight at a company event, the UAS made a left turn and the right wing skin, along with the flaps and ailerons, separated from the UAS. He further reported that, after separating the wing skins opened and floated behind the UAS as it rolled right, spun, and impacted terrain. Substantial damage was identified to the entire UAS, to include the fuselage, both wings, and empennage Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right-wing skin had delaminated/separated from the wing spar consistent with a failed bond between the wing skin and wing spar.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.