History of Flight
On November 5, 2022, at about 0811 Hawaii-Aleutian standard time, an Airborne Windsports Edge XT-912-L weight-shift-control light sport aircraft, N444EZ, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Mokuleia, Hawaii. The flight instructor and an initial/introductory flight training student received fatal injuries. The aircraft was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight by Paradise Air Hang Gliding.
The operator described the flight as a discovery flight lesson intended to last about 30 minutes. However, during a subsequent conversation with a family member, they stated that no instruction was provided and that the student was considered a passenger.
When the aircraft did not return, another pilot from the operator searched and eventually located the wreckage about 2 miles west of Dillingham Airfield. A witness near the accident site reported hearing the engine running and observed the aircraft descending in a nose-low attitude until impact.
According to ADS-B flight track data and video from a GoPro camera mounted on the right wing, the aircraft taxied onto the runway at Dillingham Airfield (HDH) at about 0739. It flew east, maneuvering at various altitudes and performing several 360° turns, then turned back west. The flight continued along the coast toward Ka’ena Point, then made a left climbing turn toward HDH. The aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 5,670 ft mean sea level (msl), descended to 1,200 ft, climbed to 2,700 ft, completed a left 360°, and continued climbing. After a second left turn, the aircraft began a descent from 2,700 ft.
As it entered a right turn at 2,100 ft, the flight instructor told the student another way to lose altitude was to “do spirals.” The aircraft then entered a tight descending right turn, rolling to near the recommended limit of 60° and increasing airspeed to near the maneuvering limit of 73 knots. As the aircraft rolled out of the right turn to a near wings-level attitude, three battens connecting the wing fabric to the wing structure released at the trailing edge of the left wing. The left wing subsequently began to flutter, and the aircraft rapidly rolled left, entering an uncontrolled descending spiral dive. The last track data was recorded at 0810, as the aircraft descended through 700 ft msl at 20 knots.
Aircraft and Operator Information
The aircraft, an Airborne Windsports Edge XT-912-L, was owned by the flight instructor and operated by Paradise Air Hang Gliding. The operator performed most of the maintenance, including annual and 100-hour inspections. The flight instructor’s total flight experience was provided by the operator; his pilot logbook was not located.
Meteorological Conditions
A Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) sounding indicated average winds in the accident area were 14 knots or greater at or below 5,000 ft.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Postaccident examination revealed the fuselage was intact but impact damaged. Flight control continuity was confirmed from control inputs to control surfaces. The wing mast was impact damaged; the mast safety cable remained attached. The parachute safety pin was removed, and the parachute was partially deployed. The battens that separated during flight were not recovered. The engine remained attached to the airframe. The carburetors were separated from the engine and impact damaged. The fuel tank was breached and empty. All three propeller blades remained attached to the hub, but the outboard portions of all blades were impact separated.
Additional Information
The manufacturer issued AirBorne Service Instruction SB-019, Issue 1, dated January 9, 2015, which lists factors that can cause the hinged batten fittings to unload: damage to the latch from incorrect unloading, over tension of the batten, and operation outside the placarded limitations. The Aircraft Operating Instructions advise not to exceed 60° of bank, and the maneuvering speed (Va) for the aircraft with the XR-S wing is 73 knots.
Medical and Pathological Findings
The Department of the Medical Examiner, City and County of Honolulu, performed an autopsy on the pilot. The cause of death was massive blunt force trauma, and the manner of death was accident. Toxicology testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory detected ethanol in liver tissue (0.012 g/hg) and muscle (0.024 g/hg). Ethanol can be produced postmortem by microbial activity, especially after extensive traumatic injury.