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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

October 11, 1994 · Cessna 310R · N5494J

Rochester, NY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
October 11, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Rochester, NY
Aircraft
Cessna 310R
Tail Number
N5494J
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
NYC95IA020

THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD 'BANG' AFTER HE APPLIED FULL POWER TO BEGIN THE TAKEOFF ROLL. HE THEN NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT PROPELLER HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER HUB REVEALED THAT THE HUB SEPARATED AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE CRACKING THAT INITIATED FROM THE HOLES FOR THE STUDS USED TO ATTACH THE HUB TO THE CRANKSHAFT FLANGE. A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FRETTING WAS NOTED ON THE MOUNTING FACE OF THE HUB, INDICATING POSSIBLE LOOSENESS BETWEEN THE HUB AND CRANKSHAFT. THIS IS LIKELY DUE TO INADEQUATE PRELOAD ON THE STUB AS A RESULT OF INADEQUATE ASSEMBLY TORQUE ON THE NUTS.

NTSB Probable Cause

Inadequate maintenance which resulted in undertorqued bolts, fatigue cracking of the hub, and the separation of the propeller assembly from the engine.

Full Narrative

On October 11, 1994, at 1835 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 310R, N5494J, operated by Northland Aviation Inc., and piloted by Raymond Jacqus, aborted the takeoff at the Rochester Airport, Rochester, New York. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 135. The pilot heard a loud "bang" after he applied full power to begin the takeoff roll. He then noticed that the right propeller had separated from the engine. Six pieces of the three bladed feathering hub, part number E- 5887, other internal and external components from the right propeller were sent to the NTSB, Material Laboratory, Washington, DC. Three stud holes, a second dowel pin hole were not submitted for examination. Metallurgical examination of the propeller hub revealed that the hub separated as a result of fatigue cracking that initiated from the holes for the studs used to attach the hub to the crankshaft flange. The fatigue initiated in about the third thread root from the bottom of the holes. The examination revealed combined fatigue cracking initiated from stud holes, labeled "1" and "2" and propagated almost all of the way from one blade socket to another. Examination of the portions of the hub mounting face revealed the presences of "extensive fretting damage." There were no defects found in the hub that may have contributed to the cracking.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time18:35 EDT
Nearest AirportGreater Rochester Intl. (0nm)
Runway7
Runway Length4403 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 310R
Tail NumberN5494J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520M · Reciprocating · 285
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 27 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data