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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

May 26, 1990 · Ayres S2R-600 · N40145

Vero Beach, FL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 26, 1990
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Vero Beach, FL
Aircraft
Ayres S2R-600
Tail Number
N40145
Operator
Sunniland Aircraft Sales
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA90LA134

The pilot stated that while maneuvering, he felt a severe vibration. He dumped the chemical and during the forced landing, collided with trees before coming to rest. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the No. 2 prop blade counterweight bearing shaft failed due to fatigue. According to the metallurgist, the fatigue was due to bending stress which was caused by excessive clearance between the shaft and the bushed hole it was positioned in. This allowed centrifugal force to position the blade to high pitch, resulting in unequal thrust. The propeller was overhauled in 1987 but the total time since that time could not be determined. The propeller was repaired about 10 weeks prior to the accident but had only accumulated 3.4 hours since the repair. According to the prop overhaul facility general manager, the propeller was returned to the operator after the accident but the approved for service line on the work order was not signed. According to the chief inspector of the repair facility, further inspection was necessary to determine if the propeller was airworthy.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE OPERATION OF THE AIRPLANE WITH AN UNAIRWORTHY PROPELLER BY THE OPERATOR.

Full Narrative

THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE MANEUVERING, HE FELT A SEVERE VIBRATION. HE DUMPED THE CHEMICAL & DURING THE FORCED LANDING, COLLIDED WITH TREES BEFORE COMING TO REST. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE NO. 2 PROP BLADE COUNTERWEIGHT BEARING SHAFT FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. ACCORDING TO THE METALLURGIST, THE FATIGUE WAS DUE TO BENDING STRESS WHICH WAS CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE SHAFT & THE BUSHED HOLE IT WAS POSITIONED IN. THIS ALLOWED CENTRIFUGAL FORCE TO POSITION THE BLADE TO HIGH PITCH, RESULTING IN UNEQUAL THRUST. THE PROP WAS OVERHAULED IN 1987 BUT THE TOTAL TIME SINCE THAT TIME COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE PROP WAS REPAIRED ABOUT 10 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT BUT HAD ONLY ACCUMULATED 3.4 HRS SINCE THE REPAIR. ACCORDING TO THE PROP OVERHAUL FACILITY GENERAL MGR, THE PROP WAS RETURNED TO THE OPERATOR AFTER THE ACCIDENT BUT THE APPROVED FOR SERVICE LINE ON THE WORK ORDER WAS NOT SIGNED. ACCORDING TO THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF THE REPAIR FACILITY, FURTHER INSP WAS NECESSARY TO DETERMINE IF THE PROP WAS AIRWORTHY.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAyres S2R-600
Tail NumberN40145
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSunniland Aircraft Sales
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R1340 · Reciprocating · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 56 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 16 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3000 ft
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time13:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data