What happened
On September 1, 2022, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 42 NG, registration N43RG, was involved in an accident at Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) in Florida. The aircraft was being operated by MyFlight LLC for a Part 91 instructional flight. The crew, consisting of a commercial pilot in the right front seat and a flight instructor in the left seat, was preparing for a local flight to gain a multiengine rating.
Prior to departure, the crew received a weather briefing that indicated thunderstorms in the vicinity. While taxiing to runway 7, the crew observed precipitation over the departure end of the runway and elected to hold at the HOLD 2 pad on taxiway A7 to wait for better conditions. During this hold, the weather deteriorated significantly. Local observations showed winds gusting to 54 knots, heavy rain, and thunderstorms.
As the wind gusts increased, the flight instructor attempted to secure the aircraft by applying down elevator control and moving the left aileron into the wind. The instructor reported that the left wing began bouncing more than the right wing; subsequently, the left wing lifted, causing the aircraft to roll to the right and move into an inverted position. The commercial pilot sustained 1 fatal injury, and the flight instructor sustained 1 serious injury.
The investigation
An FAA inspector examined the wreckage, which was found inverted and confined to the taxiway surface. The investigation noted structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. Specifically, the composite tail boom fractured approximately 4 feet behind the rear cabin, and the horizontal stabilizer and rudder separated from the vertical stabilizer.
An examination of the cockpit's survivability features revealed that the canopy was crushed and the overroll bar had fractured due to overload. The investigation measured a loss of 4.4 inches of vertical space between the middle tunnel cover and the overroll bar. While the seats and restraints were undamaged, the deformation of the overhead structure and the movement of the occupants during the roll contributed to the injuries sustained.
Meteorological analysis confirmed that a microburst caused the event. Terminal Doppler Weather Radar from Orlando recorded a divergent wind velocity signature east and above the accident site at the time of the accident. Additionally, lightning data showed 1,053 flashes within 25 miles of the site in the 30 minutes surrounding the accident.