The ATSB has released its preliminary report into the in-flight break up of a DH-82A Tiger Moth in southeast Queensland late last year.
The aircraft, VH-TSG, was conducting a commercial joy flight from Pimpama over the Gold Coast on December 13, when its left wing failed. The aircraft impacted the water 300 metres off South Stradbroke Island resulting in the deaths of the pilot and passenger.
A preliminary examination determined that both of the aircraft’s fuselage lateral tie rods, which join the lower wings to the fuselage, had fractured at areas of significant, pre-existing fatigue cracking in the threaded section near the join with the left wing.
As a result, the ATSB has issued a Safety Advisory Notice to all Tiger Moth operators about the issue.
The preliminary report can be found here.
