A piper PA-23 in cruise at 7000 ft had the left wingtip depart the aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	554060
Time
Date	200207
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
State Reference	WI
Altitude	msl single value : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-23 Apache (& Geronimo Apache)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	554060
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 10 flight time total : 350 flight time type : 10
ASRS Report	554059
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While in flight left wingtip fell off. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the wing tip departed the aircraft and left all the fasteners in place and secure. The reporter said the wing tip was not recovered. The reporter stated the tip was made of fiberglass and installed in 1966. The reporter stated the aircraft flew with a slight yaw after departure of the wing tip. Callback from acn 554059: the reporter stated the wing tip surface on inspection appeared rough and fibrous and definitely not smooth but secure. The reporter said the wing tip was an approved speed modification made of fiberglass and installed in 1966.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PIPER PA-23 IN CRUISE AT 7000 FT HAD THE LEFT WINGTIP DEPART THE ACFT.

Narrative: WHILE IN FLT LEFT WINGTIP FELL OFF. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE WING TIP DEPARTED THE ACFT AND LEFT ALL THE FASTENERS IN PLACE AND SECURE. THE RPTR SAID THE WING TIP WAS NOT RECOVERED. THE RPTR STATED THE TIP WAS MADE OF FIBERGLASS AND INSTALLED IN 1966. THE RPTR STATED THE ACFT FLEW WITH A SLIGHT YAW AFTER DEP OF THE WING TIP. CALLBACK FROM ACN 554059: THE RPTR STATED THE WING TIP SURFACE ON INSPECTION APPEARED ROUGH AND FIBROUS AND DEFINITELY NOT SMOOTH BUT SECURE. THE RPTR SAID THE WING TIP WAS AN APPROVED SPEED MODIFICATION MADE OF FIBERGLASS AND INSTALLED IN 1966.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.