List:

 

Attached are 6 additional pictures of the plane from which you can draw your own conclusions.  The following is a short factual summary:

 

On Sept. 12 Bill Hartley of Cambridge, OH lost his left inboard wing panel in normal maneuvering flight about 20 miles from the airport.   He stated that it was very difficult to control, requiring “full’ aileron input.  He headed directly to the airport at a relatively high speed because the aircraft seemed to fly better fast.  He lowered his gear on a base leg and landed very fast and very hard.  The nose wheel sheared off at the flange and the aircraft skidded down the runway on the front strut, which did not collapse.  The prop was badly bent.

 

The closeout adhesive was a Jeffco epoxy flox mix, which he says they used during the factory assist program (He bought the fast build) on other closeouts.  He remembers using hysol only for windows.  Sanding for parts preparation was done with an air grinder and 80-grit sandpaper.

 

Observation of the wing revealed that approximately 90% of the flox remained on the spars and joggles.  The departing panel, which has not yet been found, took only about 10% of the adhesive with it.  There were numerous voids in the adhesive where squeezeout had not occurred. At the leading edge, in spots where the flox had departed with the panel, The carbon fiber did not appear to have been sanded and Bill could not remember having done it.  There were voids in the leading edge closeout epoxy.  The leading edge BID tape was found loose inside the cavity forward of the spar, 75% complete.  No adhesive was on it, only a narrow line of what appeared to be epoxy painted on the center where it makes its bend.  The part that was missing from the BID appeared to have been ripped off cleanly, in a straight line. Also found loose in the wing cavity was the nose rib (closeout rib). It had all of the flox still on the top of the rib, but the bottom had a completely different, light-colored adhesive that was difficult to differentiate from the fiberglass rib.  100% of the adhesive was stuck to the rib, leaving no adhesive on the bottom wing skin, although it was possible to see where it had been. Small “hairs” of carbon fiber could be seen embedded in that adhesive. 

 

Bill claims that the parts were not shipped with peel ply protection.  He had a conversation with the factory and they confirmed that. He also confirmed that the nose rib had been constructed and glued in while in the Phillipines, accounting for the different adhesive.  It is unknown if the factory is going to examine the plane. 

 

If anyone has further questions I’ll try to get answers for you.  Email me direct at c.larue@verizon.net.  Rob Logan also viewed the plane and may add further facts to this summary.  More pics available, including Bill’s construction photos.

 

Carl La Rue