Pilot of an experimental small aircraft biplane experienced top wind failure in-flight and was able ...

Attributes
ACN	254189
Time
Date	199310
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : fep
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1450 msl bound upper : 1450
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	cruise other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 400 flight time type : 400
ASRS Report	254184
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

About 3 mi after takeoff at 500 ft over corn fields and open country, part of the top wing bent upward. By using full rudder and maximum power, I was able to head back around to the airport (actually climbing some) and made a good (no damage) landing at the airport. I feel that this wing was damaged at an earlier date. Specifically, when I was coming home from the river and went through the worst turbulence I've ever been in (several months ago). At the time, I was worried about the structure and whether it would hold together. But being composite, I couldn't inspect inside, but I feel it gradually weakened ever since. Corrective action: I am rebuilding a stronger wing and making doubly sure of the wing skin/spar bond.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL SMA BIPLANE EXPERIENCED TOP WIND FAILURE INFLT AND WAS ABLE TO CTL THE ACFT FOR A RETURN LAND WITH NO FURTHER ACFT DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

Narrative: ABOUT 3 MI AFTER TKOF AT 500 FT OVER CORN FIELDS AND OPEN COUNTRY, PART OF THE TOP WING BENT UPWARD. BY USING FULL RUDDER AND MAX PWR, I WAS ABLE TO HEAD BACK AROUND TO THE ARPT (ACTUALLY CLBING SOME) AND MADE A GOOD (NO DAMAGE) LNDG AT THE ARPT. I FEEL THAT THIS WING WAS DAMAGED AT AN EARLIER DATE. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN I WAS COMING HOME FROM THE RIVER AND WENT THROUGH THE WORST TURB I'VE EVER BEEN IN (SEVERAL MONTHS AGO). AT THE TIME, I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE STRUCTURE AND WHETHER IT WOULD HOLD TOGETHER. BUT BEING COMPOSITE, I COULDN'T INSPECT INSIDE, BUT I FEEL IT GRADUALLY WEAKENED EVER SINCE. CORRECTIVE ACTION: I AM REBUILDING A STRONGER WING AND MAKING DOUBLY SURE OF THE WING SKIN/SPAR BOND.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Pilot of an experimental small aircraft biplane experienced top wind failure in-flight and was able to control the aircraft for a return land with no further aircraft damage. There were no injuries.