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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 14, 1993 · Piper PA-24-250 · N6846P

Thief Rvr Falls, MN

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
October 14, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Thief Rvr Falls, MN
Aircraft
Piper PA-24-250
Tail Number
N6846P
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
CHI94IA017

IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 8500 FEET MSL, THERE WAS A SEPARATION OF APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT OF THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF ONE PROPELLER BLADE. THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING IN A SUNFLOWER FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED PROPELLER BLADE REVEALED IT HAD FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. THE ORIGIN OF THE FATIGUE FRACTURE WAS AT A CORROSION PIT ON THE CAMBER SURFACE OF THE BLADE MEASURING 0.012 INCH WIDE AND 0.0014 INCH DEEP.

NTSB Probable Cause

FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER BLADE, ORIGINATING FROM A CORROSION PIT.

Full Narrative

On October 13, 1993, at 1945 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6846P, experienced a separation of approximately one foot of the outboard portion of one propeller blade while in cruise flight at 8,500 feet mean sea level. The private pilot made an uneventful forced landing near Thief River Falls, Minnesota. There was no damage to the airplane. The personal flight originated at Warroad, Minnesota, at 1900, with an intended destination of Arthur, North Dakota. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The engine logbook indicated the propeller had been overhauled and reinstalled on April 1, 1986 at airframe total time of 2,942 hours. There were four annual inspection logbook entries stating the propeller had been "dressed and painted." The last inspection was an annual inspection completed on December 1, 1992. The airplane had flown 88 hours since inspection. The total time accumulated since the propeller had been overhauled was 1,000 hours. The remaining portion of the failed propeller blade was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory, Washington D.C., for examination. The metallurgical report stated the fracture was typical of a fatigue separation. The fatigue origin was a corrosion pit on the camber surface of the blade measuring 0.012 inches wide and 0.0014 inches deep.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time19:45 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-24-250
Tail NumberN6846P
Aircraft CategoryAir
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-A1A5 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 38 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind170° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 30 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time00:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data