Unfortunately, when something like this happens, a great company and a great product get a tarnished reputation.
I spoke at our recent SAAA (your EAA) chapter meeting yesterday about all our collective responsibilities when flying but more so in first flights. This is a serious business, inspections need to be thorough, preferably with another very experienced A&P/LAME or builder who knows what they are looking at, and with a check sheet, usually several pages of them.
This pre first flight inspection is normally a full day, then once all the panels seats etc are replaced and checked they are done properly, the next morning is a time for testing.
In Australia lately, the RAAus who administer the ultralight and LSA segment (done different to the USA) have had a lot of fatalities this year already, and by far the bigest chunk of them are directly out of the basket of "low hanging fruit" that Van talked about in his safety corner two years ago.
In the last twelve months it has been staggering, from night ops in Trikes (dark like the inside of a cow), Trikes in IMC and spinning at low level, drinking then doing beat ups in a Drifter (UL), and the list goes on. Now this one which is closer to home for us as it was an RV, however on the RAAus register.
It makes me mad
It reflects poorly on the rest of us, and we all have to work harder to protect what we have, when we should not have to!
