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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

August 18, 1992 · Mitsubishi MU-2-60 · N66LA

Philadelphia, PA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 18, 1992
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Philadelphia, PA
Aircraft
Mitsubishi MU-2-60
Tail Number
N66LA
Operator
Epps Air Service
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC92LA166

AT 6000 FEET MSL, WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, A PROPELLER BLADE FROM THE LEFT PROPELLER ASSEMBLY SEPARATED IN-FLIGHT, PENETRATED THE FUSELAGE, BREAKING ELECTRICAL LINES AND CAUSING A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. AT THE TIME THE AIRPLANE WAS IN IMC, SO THE PILOT ELECTED TO TURN 180 DEGREES IN AN ATTEMPT TO FLY TO AN AREA OF BETTER WEATHER. HE FLEW WITHOUT ELECTRICAL POWER OR MOST OF THE INSTRUMENTS FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES, UNTIL REACHING AN AREA OF CLEAR WEATHER. ONCE THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY HIS LOCATION HE ELECTED TO MAKE A GEAR UP LANDING AT THE NEAREST AIRPORT. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE SEPARATED BLADE REVEALED THAT THE SEPARATION OF THE BLADE WAS THE RESULT OF FATIGUE CRACKING THAT INITIATED FROM MULTIPLE SITES LOCATED AT CORROSION PITS IN THE BALANCING HOLE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CORROSION PITTING HAD NOT BEEN DETECTED DURING THE LAST OVERHAUL AND PROCEDURES TO SHOT PEEN AND PAINT THE BALANCING HOLE WERE NOT PERFORMED.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE IN-FLIGHT SEPARATION OF A PROPELLER BLADE AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE CRACKING INITIATED FROM MULTIPLE SITES LOCATED AT CORROSION PITS IN THE BALANCING HOLE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE FAILURE TO DETECT THE CORROSION DURING THE LAST OVERHAUL PROCEDURE; AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AS RESULT OF THE SEPARATED BLADE BREAKING THE ELECTRICAL LINES.

Full Narrative

AT 6000 FEET MSL, WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, A PROPELLER BLADE FROM THE LEFT PROPELLER ASSEMBLY SEPARATED IN-FLIGHT, PENETRATED THE FUSELAGE, BREAKING ELECTRICAL LINES AND CAUSING A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. AT THE TIME THE AIRPLANE WAS IN IMC, SO THE PILOT ELECTED TO TURN 180 DEGREES IN AN ATTEMPT TO FLY TO AN AREA OF BETTER WEATHER. HE FLEW WITHOUT ELECTRICAL POWER OR MOST OF THE INSTRUMENTS FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES, UNTIL REACHING AN AREA OF CLEAR WEATHER. ONCE THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY HIS LOCATION HE ELECTED TO MAKE A GEAR UP LANDING AT THE NEAREST AIRPORT. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE SEPARATED BLADE REVEALED THAT THE SEPARATION OF THE BLADE WAS THE RESULT OF FATIGUE CRACKING THAT INITIATED FROM MULTIPLE SITES LOCATED AT CORROSION PITS IN THE BALANCING HOLE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CORROSION PITTING HAD NOT BEEN DETECTED DURING THE LAST OVERHAUL AND PROCEDURES TO SHOT PEEN AND PAINT THE BALANCING HOLE WERE NOT PERFORMED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time05:58 EDT
Nearest AirportNortheast Philadelphia (0nm)
Runway6
Runway Length7000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMitsubishi MU-2-60
Tail NumberN66LA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorEpps Air Service
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsGarrett · TPE331-10-511 · Turboprop · 1000
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 47 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind360° @ 4 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingOvercast 1400 ft
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 64 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time09:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data