Posted on 08/18/2006 7:33:10 AM PDT by txroadkill
Wal-Mart heir John Walton made major modifications to his experimental light aircraft in the weeks before he died, according to the final accident report released last week by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The report did not give a probable cause for the June 27, 2005, accident that killed 58-year-old Walton.
He died from blunt force trauma after crashing his single-engine CGS Hawk Arrow II aircraft while attempting to land at the Jackson Hole Airport in Jackson, Wyo.
Walton had repaired the aircraft after a hard landing weeks earlier following a flight home from the builder in West Virginia, the report stated.
He removed the rear floorboard, rear control stick, rear seat and restraint system, the nose-mounted heater, the fuselage cover and the gap cover.
“The kit manufacturer and the dealer offered to personally assist the pilot in Jackson with the repairs to the airplane,” NTSB investigator Aaron Sauer wrote in his report.
“However, the pilot declined the offer for on-scene assistance.”
Walton purchased several new pieces from the aircraft manufacturer and had friends help in making the repairs, the report said.
“The pilot did not replace the fuselage cover, gap covers or doors after the repairs were completed,” Sauer said.
“The pilot’s friends also reported that [Walton ] had been using an inspection mirror to search for metal shavings … during the days preceding the accident.”
Metal shavings can be a sign of corrosion, metal fatigue or damage being done by parts rubbing against each other.
Walton purchased the aircraft in June 2004 from CGS Aviation and worked with a builder in West Virginia on its construction.
The government’s report shows Walton had problems with the aircraft before construction was completed.
“During one flight, the pilot left a cordless drill on the top of the engine prior to takeoff,” Sauer said.
“During the flight, the cordless drill fell off the engine and contacted the composite propeller.”
The propeller was damaged, but Walton was able to land the aircraft with no problems, the report stated.
In May 2005, Walton damaged the landing gear on the aircraft in Burwell, Neb., when he attempted to land to retrieve a bag that fell out of the craft.
“The pilot then partially disassembled the airplane, transported the airplane via truck to Jackson and performed repairs on the airplane,” Sauer said.
Federal law does not require a person to be certified in mechanics to make repairs on experimental aircraft.
Walton made two flights after repairing the plane and told friends he had problems during both trips and made repairs to the aircraft.
“The pilot reported no further discrepancies with the airplane to his friends,” Sauer said. Walton crashed his aircraft approximately seven minutes after takeoff from the Jackson Hole Airport on June 27, 2005, the report said. He gave no indication to air traffic control that he was having problems. The second son of Sam Walton, founder of Bentonvillebased Wal-Mart Stores Inc., John Walton left Northwest Arkansas shortly after returning from a stint as an Army Green Beret in Vietnam. He worked as a crop duster and a ship builder before settling down in northwest Wyoming, where he lived with his wife and son.
So, looking at the Arrow, it looks like an attempt at a good copy, but that would be it. No way I'd fly or ride in the Arrow, Taylor, yes.
If major repairs were done on John's as the article says, I wonder why the poor fellow refused competent assistance from the manufacturer?
Anyway, not meaning to be overly critical, but leaving a drill on top of the engine, etc???Sounds like old John (bless his soul) didn't have the focus to be a pilot. You don't stay a pilot long and not have a sharp / analytical mind. There is very little room for error even though the physical requirements to fly an aircraft aren't that demanding.
Wonder what kind of unpowered glide angle the Arrow possesses? With that large wing it should be very good, but it just doesn't look like it handles w/respect to quick yaw corrections.
Agree on all points, especially which of the aircraft you'd be willing to fly in.
After reading the article, I don't think he should have been flying anything. A friend of a friend of mine bought the farm along with his family after making a bad repair on a home built.
Aeronautical degrees take a lot of work to get, then one has to spend many years working with it to understand there's a zero tolerance for error in manufacturing and flying aircraft.
After first looking at the Arrow a picture immediately came to my mind:
Imagine.
Assuming the prop spins counter clockwise looking from tail to nose on the Arrow. Think about being 40-50 ft up on approach and then catching a 20 mph right to left gust coming from around 2 o'clock (45º to your right). I don't think there's enough rudder on that thing considering its size and placement to easily correct for that type of gust.
a guy that wealthy should be flying something like a civilianized F-15 although I've never heard of one, there are civilianized F-16's out there. Or so I have heard.
John should have had a minimum 200+ solo hrs in a high wing aircraft like a Cessna, Piper, whatever before tryin on an expiremental coupled with at least a couple semesters with some materials and ME courses before assuming 'it's just like working on a lawmower'.
"Sometimes it's just not a good idea to do-it-yourself."
True that! When you're in a machine with nothing but air between you and the hard, cold ground, you want that machine to be in EXPERT condition.
I've heard of a few folks that could never get their pilots license cause they were never good with directions or maps and couldn't complete the groundwork.
Never underestimate to what lengths people will go to to save a buck or make an extra buck.
On another subject. All these folks found guilty of ID theft and the costs / headaches they inflict? Simple. Public Caning - 7 Licks and Monetary restitution for however long it takes for the repayment - no jail time at all unless they refuse to pay.
PS. I read your about page. Interesting. I'm sure many fellow Texans appreciate your sacrifice as a LEO.
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