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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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February 15, 1986 · Swearingen SA226TC · N252AM

Kansas City, MO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 15, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (16 uninjured)
Location
Kansas City, MO
Aircraft
Swearingen SA226TC
Tail Number
N252AM
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MKC86FA059

DURING A CLIMB TO CRUISE, THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY & REQUESTED TO DSCND & RETURN TO THE ARPT. THE LANDING WAS UNEVENTFUL. AN EXAM OF THE LEFT PROP REVEALED THAT 1 OF ITS 3 BLADES HAD FAILED AT THE BUTT END & HAD SEPARATED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT ENG ATTACH MOUNTS HAD FAILED & THE ENG HAD BECOME COCKED OUTBOARD FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. A METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE BLADE REVEALED FATIGUE CRACKING, EMINATING FM WITHIN THE PILOT HOLE OF THE BLADE BUTT. NUMEROUS SCRATCHES WERE VISIBLE IN THE PILOT HOLE AND THE CRACK HAD ITS INITIATION AT ONE OF THE SCRATCH MARKS NR THE BEARING WASHER. THE WASHER IS USED TO PULL THE BEARING OUT OF THE PILOT HOLE FOR MAINTENANCE AND/OR INSPECTION.

Full Narrative

DURING A CLIMB TO CRUISE, THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY & REQUESTED TO DSCND & RETURN TO THE ARPT. THE LANDING WAS UNEVENTFUL. AN EXAM OF THE LEFT PROP REVEALED THAT 1 OF ITS 3 BLADES HAD FAILED AT THE BUTT END & HAD SEPARATED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT ENG ATTACH MOUNTS HAD FAILED & THE ENG HAD BECOME COCKED OUTBOARD FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. A METALLURGICAL EXAM OF THE BLADE REVEALED FATIGUE CRACKING, EMINATING FM WITHIN THE PILOT HOLE OF THE BLADE BUTT. NUMEROUS SCRATCHES WERE VISIBLE IN THE PILOT HOLE AND THE CRACK HAD ITS INITIATION AT ONE OF THE SCRATCH MARKS NR THE BEARING WASHER. THE WASHER IS USED TO PULL THE BEARING OUT OF THE PILOT HOLE FOR MAINTENANCE AND/OR INSPECTION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:33 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSwearingen SA226TC
Tail NumberN252AM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsAiresearch · TPE-331 · Turboprop · 840
Seats17

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (16 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured16
Total16
Crew 1Age 30 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point16 C / 7 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time02:45
Weather SourceWFAC

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Appendix: Source Data