April 1, 2024 Sandpoint Idaho – Almost exactly one year after an event in Tampa, Florida the NTSB has posted detailed documents and photos related to the March 30, 2023 incident where a CitationJet safely landed with nearly 70 inches of wingtip missing.
The package from the NTSB includes a detailed Systems Factual Report which details extensive testing of the Tamarack equipment. Testing and inspection revealed “no anomalies” and each unit passed functional testing, which builds on previous reports finding no anomalies in the Tamarack equipment. The entire docket of information released by the NTSB can be found here.
The NTSB will continue its investigation and eventually issue a Final Report. While the investigation is ongoing, now extending over a year, the NTSB hasn’t raised any safety concerns about the Tamarack upgrade.
“You can see that the NTSB is being very thorough, and we’re happy to see that,” said Tamarack President, Jacob Klinginsmith. “The fleet knows how robust this structure is- in fact it passed the static test back in 2014 with ample margin – it’s really over-built. Right now we have a great backlog of installations scheduled including a few more CJ3+ aircraft. We’ll continue to support the work of the NTSB on this matter, but business is good.”
Shortly after the initial inspection in Tampa, the owner ferried the aircraft from Tampa to Fort Lauderdale, with the entire wingtip missing. The move was supported by FAA and Tamarack because FAA certification included successfully flight testing a one winglet removed scenario simulating a bird-strike, ground damage, lightning strike, or any other abnormal, external event damaging the winglet, proving ample safety margin even in an unlikely emergency scenario. The aircraft was repaired and returned to service soon after the relocation flight.
The aircraft owner has three aircraft with the Tamarack upgrade which are used for a combination of air charter, business travel, and personal use. The owner was happy to have the aircraft restored, “It looks a lot better with two winglets!”
The recent round of content released by the NTSB also includes photos of the wingtip, clearly showing that the wing extension missing from the aircraft, just a few inches from the aileron.
About Tamarack Aerospace
Tamarack Aerospace Group is an aircraft performance and sustainability technology company revolutionizing business, defense, and commercial aircraft with its unique and patented SMARTWINGTM technology. The technology provides substantial aircraft range increase and fuel savings, along with payload increase, outstanding climb performance, ride smoothing, increased structural life, and increased safety and stability. Tamarack’s flight efficiency technologies provide truly transformative performance improvements for new aircraft designs or aftermarket retrofit and are the best fuel savings retrofit currently available. Since structural reinforcement is not required, these modifications are lightweight and offer reduced time for installation. Learn more at www.tamarackaero.com and follow Tamarack Aerospace Group on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
