On April 4th, 2007, a Fly Baby owned and flown by Paul Kingsland of Phoenix crashed fatally. According to reports, the aircraft "Broke up in mid air."
A relative of the owner (also a pilot, and very familiar with the plane) contacted me. He confirmed that the aircraft had a non-standard wing-bracing system, using streamlined flying wires. It also had different landing gear, using a split-axle system.
There have previously been problems with aircraft using solid bracing wires (tie rods or streamlined) on Fly Babies. However, Mr. Kingsland was apparently aware of the past issues. The relative told me the pilot had removed the anchor plates last year and had them x-rayed and otherwise examined. No issues had been found.
Bowers included a drawing of a split-axle system in the plans, but comments, ""The designer is against the divided axle and includes it in these drawings only to show that it CAN be done." [Page 2-14].
We do not yet know the actual initator of this accident yet...whether it was the anchor plates, the bracing rods themselves, or the modified landing gear. I have been in contact with the NTSB investigator, and will provide updates as they become available. Please monitor the Fly Baby Mailing List for up-to-date information. You do not have to be a member of the list to read the messages...they are contained in the archives.
Comments? Contact Ron Wanttaja.