Endless Skies Aviation Inc. L164 accident near Durand, Michigan, September 11, 2006
On September 11, 2006 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Endless Skies Aviation Inc. L164, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N2627J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durand, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The kit builder's improper installation of the aileron bracket leading to the aileron flutter during cruise that resulted in the wing spars' failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2006 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Durand, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Endless Skies Aviation Inc. L164, amateur-built
- Registration
- N2627J · no longer on the register · serial CA004-90
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental amateur-built airplane sustained substantial damage when a wing spar failed during cruise. The pilot executed a forced landing to a nearby field. The airplane had accumulated 40.6 hours of flight time. The pilot's accident report, in part, stated, "When the aircraft reached 135 MPH indicated and was at that airspeed for a minute or two in calm stable air it suddenly developed an aileron flutter. Both ailerons fluttered. ... [The passenger] noticed the flutter before [the pilot] because the stick did not shake. The flutter started at the trailing edge of the wing and progressively got worse. Wing tips traveled 4 to 5 [inches] up [and] down. [The pilot] saw the right wing fail in an up position. The flutter stopped at approx 120 MPH. The nearest airport was 8.5 miles away. That was too far away. [The pilot] elected to land in a farmer's field straight ahead before we experienced further wing failure." An on-scene examination revealed that the aileron hinge brackets were not attached to the ailerons as depicted in the kit drawings for the airplane. This airplane kit's aileron hinge brackets were not pre-drilled by the kit manufacturer. Subsequent to the accident, the kit manufacturer issued a service bulletin (SB). That SB, in part, stated, "As of January 2004, Parts L370 R & L are delivered to customer pre-drilled for bolt holes as per attached drawing. Compliance method: Customers who have received the above parts un-drilled should note that the center to center distances of the bolt holes are critical. Particularly those which are for the bolts holding the assembly to the aileron spars. The attached drawing dimensions must be respected."
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 7,951 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 7,903 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40.6 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Eci Titan O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OZW Howell MI at 2:00 pm
- Destination: BIS Bismarck ND
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from FNT, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.