ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 18912
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Wednesday 3 June 1970 |
| Time: | 12:00 |
| Type: |  Zlín 526A Akrobat |
| Owner/operator: | Neil Williams |
| Registration: | G-AWAR |
| MSN: | 1036 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Hullavington, Chippenham, Wiltshire -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Demo/Airshow/Display |
| Departure airport: | Hullavington, Chippenham, Wiltshire (EGDV) |
| Hullavington, Chippenham, Wiltshire (EGDV) | |
| Investigating agency: | AIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Zlin Z-526A Akrobat G-AWAR: Written off (destroyed) 3/6/1970 when crashed during aerobatics display practice at Hullavington, Wiltshire. The aircraft's wing failed and folded up due to stress fatigue cracking. According to contemporary press reports, and the official AAIB report into the accident:
"The cause of the wing folding on the Zlin Z526A G-AWAR flown by Mr Neil Williams on June 3, 1970, has been officially attributed by the chief inspector of accidents to a fatigue failure in the centre-section lower spar boom.
When operated in excess of +6g and -3g, the Z526 is limited to an aerobatic life of only 100 hours. Following the incident, which led to a crash landing in which the pilot was unhurt, the manufacturers, Moravan, examined every aircraft likely to be involved in aerobatics. Out of 100 examined, two Z526As were found to have cracks in the same position as G-AWAR, both having flown a comparable number of hours.
Metallurgical examination of the failed specimens showed that no material failure or deficiency had initiated the cracks. It was consequently considered that the load limitations were inadvertently exceeded, bringing about a reduction in the fatigue life of the structure".
Registration G-AWAR was cancelled the same day (3/6/1970); however, the cancellation was probably retrospective, as the CAA documentation also noted as "notified 13/10/1970"
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. AAIB: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422fa24e5274a1314000757/15-1971_G-AWAR.pdf
2. CAA: https://cwsprduksumbraco.blob.core.windows.net/g-info/HistoricalLedger/G-AWAR.pdf
3. Flight International 30 September 1971: https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%201950.html?search=cessna%20skyhawk
4. http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/SmithRon/10439L.jpg
5. https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-aviation/125691-neil-williams-zlin?p=2868508
6. http://www.aviadores.eu/williams.html
7. https://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=99305
8. G-AWAR at Biggin Hill (EGKB) 17-05-1969: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1512849
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 17-May-2008 11:10 | ASN archive | Added |
| 24-Dec-2010 14:09 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Total fatalities, Other fatalities] |
| 15-Jul-2012 08:35 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 13-Nov-2012 03:29 | TB | Updated [Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 08-Jun-2013 11:02 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Operator, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 30-Jun-2013 19:12 | TB | Updated [Time, Operator, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 17-Oct-2015 19:44 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 17-Oct-2015 19:44 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source] |
| 12-May-2016 16:55 | TB | Updated [Operator, Location] |
| 30-Sep-2020 22:57 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation