History of Flight
On April 4, 2018, about 0953 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201, registration N106ER, was conducting a local instructional flight under Part 91 at Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB), Daytona Beach, Florida. The private pilot was undergoing a practical test for a commercial pilot certificate, and the airline transport pilot was acting as a designated pilot examiner. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
The flight began with a departure from runway 25L about 0927. Radar and ADS-B data showed the airplane turning southbound, climbing to about 3,000 ft msl, and performing several climbing and descending turns. Around 0940, the airplane leveled at 2,200 ft and 112 knots heading east before turning north toward DAB. At 0940, the private pilot contacted the south arrival controller, stating he was inbound for closed traffic and had information Yankee. The controller issued a transponder code and assigned the ROSE 25 arrival.
At 0945, the pilot contacted the DAB tower controller, who instructed him to follow a Cessna Skyhawk and maintain 1,500 ft. At 0948, the pilot was cleared for the option on runway 25 and subsequently performed a touch-and-go. During initial climb, the tower advised to continue upwind. At 0952:47, the pilot asked to turn crosswind but was told to continue upwind. No further communications were received. ADS-B data showed the last radar target at 0953, about 2 miles beyond the departure end of runway 25L at 900 ft and 80 knots groundspeed.
Witnesses within 1/4 mile reported the airplane climbing normally on a westerly heading when they saw a wing separate from the fuselage. The wing appeared to float down, and the airplane descended in a steep spiral before impacting a field.
Personnel Information
The private pilot, age 25, held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and instrument ratings, and a second-class medical certificate issued June 17, 2016. He had 218.2 total flight hours, including 26 hours in the accident make and model.
The designated pilot examiner, age 61, held an airline transport pilot certificate with single-engine and multiengine land ratings, and a flight instructor certificate. He reported 27,600 total flight hours, with 400 hours in the six months prior to his medical certificate on April 5, 2017. His logbooks were not recovered.
Aircraft Information
The PA-28R-201 (Arrow) was a single-engine, low-wing, four-place airplane manufactured September 17, 2007, serial number 2844137. It was equipped with a 200-horsepower Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 engine and a McCauley two-blade constant-speed propeller. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University purchased the airplane new and operated it for its entire service life, which included 7,690.6 hours and 33,276 landing cycles before the accident. The most recent annual inspection was completed March 21, 2018, at 7,662.3 hours.
Maintenance records showed inspections every 50 hours, alternating between 50-hour and annual inspections. The annual inspection included a wing group item to inspect wing spar attachment bolts and brackets, which involved checking torque striping on nuts. No discrepancies were found. The airplane had a history of hard landings, with 18 recorded events; each triggered an inspection per the Airplane Maintenance Manual, which found no defects. The airplane was stripped and repainted in July 2014, and several bolt cover replacements were documented.
Each wing main spar is attached to the center wing box with 8 bolts through the upper cap and 10 through the lower cap. The accident airplane had not undergone the detailed spar inspection recommended in the AMM, which calls for wing removal and dye-penetrant inspection starting at 30,600 hours for normal usage.
Meteorological Information
At the time of the accident, DAB reported wind from 260° at 7 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds at 25,000 ft, temperature 24°C, dew point 19°C, and altimeter 30.03 inHg. No turbulence or in-flight weather advisories were current.
Previous In-Flight Wing Separations
The report references two prior in-flight wing separations on Piper PA-28 series airplanes. On March 30, 1987, a PA-28-181 experienced left wing separation in low-level cruise near Marlin, Texas, due to fatigue cracking at attachment bolt hole LC-1. On August 24, 1993, a PA-28-181 had a right wing separation after entering clouds near Provincetown, Massachusetts; fatigue cracking was found near hole RC-1, and incorrect nuts were noted. These incidents led to NTSB safety recommendations and subsequent FAA actions.