Cessna Greenlights LSA

Jay Honeck wrote:
Anyone else hear that CT -- the current LSA sales leader -- is
experiencing some real problems after a major structural break-up in
Europe? I was told that in Europe CTs are being speed-limited, and
are having their certification re-examined.

(I heard this through a third-party grapevine, so don't quote it as
accurate!)

I wonder if this is the accident in question:

http://www.avionews.com/index.php?co...po%3Dindex.php

Quoting from the article:

"It was around 11:45am of Saturday 23rd when a Flight Design CT-SW
airplane crashed during the performance, due to reasons still unknown,
causing the death of its pilot, Vittorio Magnani. The Saturday show has
been immediately stopped to let Carabinieri and the competent organs
investigate on the case.

A pilot commentary who was present says: "He dared beyond the limits of
the airplane's structure, thus provoking the in-flight breakdown of the
structure itself and the detachment of the aircraft's tail".

This was just a commentary of a pilot on the spur of the moment, not
coming from any official sources. We therefore refrain from making any
kind of commentary of our own.

Whichever might be the cause of this tragedy, it happened during a show
dedicated to pilots and audience and AVIONEWS joins the grief of the
dead pilot's family."

I wonder if this is the accident in question:
http://www.avionews.com/index.php?co...hp&news_id=107...

I believe that is the one I heard about. The folks who told me about
this (not surprisingly) own the US distribution rights for several
other competing LSAs.

The story goes (supposedly) that upon investigation (again, this is in
Europe) it was found that the CT was never properly certified to the
structural required limits, and their entire certification is now in
question.

Having flown a CT last summer, I can vouch for the fact that it is an
awesome little plane, and it would truly be a shame if this hurt
them. It's always hard to sift the wheat from the chaff in these
stories, though. If anyone knows the straight dope, please post it.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"