On February 4, 1984, a Piper PA-22-150 (registration N8771D) was involved in an aviation accident near Hoboken, GA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The forward right wing lift strut failed due to internal corrosion, leading to wing separation. The pilot had not complied with Airworthiness Directive 77-03-08 regarding detection and correction of excessive corrosion. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During base leg for landing, the forward right wing strut failed, causing the right wing to separate. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed. The non-certificated pilot owned the aircraft and had not complied with Airworthiness Directive 77-03-08. Metallurgical analysis revealed internal corrosion significantly reduced the strut tube wall.
Accident Overview
While on base leg for landing, the forward right wing strut failed, causing the right wing to separate from the aircraft. The aircraft then entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was owned by the non-certificated pilot. The last annual maintenance inspection was performed on December 4, 1981. The pilot had not complied with Airworthiness Directive (AD) 77-03-08, which addresses the detection and correction of excessive corrosion of wing lift struts.
Investigation Findings
Metallurgical analysis revealed that the forward lift strut tube wall had been significantly reduced by corrosive attack on the interior surface. The failure of the forward lift strut initiated the wing separation; other failures of the wing were determined to be secondary.
Probable cause
The forward right wing lift strut failed due to internal corrosion, leading to wing separation. The pilot had not complied with Airworthiness Directive 77-03-08 regarding detection and correction of excessive corrosion.
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