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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

March 22, 2012 · Reich Glastar · N617G

Caldwell, ID

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 22, 2012
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Caldwell, ID
Aircraft
Reich Glastar
Tail Number
N617G
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR12LA143

The commercial pilot/owner of the experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that, the day before the accident flight, the airplane experienced a vibration during flight. After landing, he attempted to determine the cause of the vibration without success. The next day, he conducted the accident flight to attempt to duplicate the vibration. Shortly after takeoff, one of the propeller blades separated. The pilot subsequently conducted a forced landing. The engine mounts were substantially damaged due to the unbalanced condition at the hub caused by the separated blade. The separated propeller blade was recovered, and postaccident examination of the propeller blade revealed that it had failed at the hub due to extensive fatigue cracking.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft-Aircraft propeller/rotor-Propeller system-Propeller hub section-Fatigue/wear/corrosion - C

Full Narrative

On March 22, 2012, about 1045 mountain daylight time, an experimental Reich Glastar, N617G, made a forced landing following a separation of a propeller blade during takeoff at Caldwell Industrial Airport (EUL), Caldwell, Idaho. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed Caldwell about 1040. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that during a flight on March 21, 2012, he encountered a vibration, which he thought was in the engine area. After landing he attempted to locate the source of the vibration but was unsuccessful. The next day the pilot decided to try and duplicate the vibration in flight. During takeoff, when he was about 200 feet, one blade of the composite constant speed propeller separated at the hub. After the forced landing the pilot observed that the unbalanced condition caused three of the four engine mounts to fail. The installed propeller was a Vesta VT-2, with 125 hours total time since new. The separated propeller was recovered, and the blade shank was removed from the hub and sent to the National Transportation Safety Board laboratory in Washington, D.C., for evaluation. The materials laboratory specialist reported that the Vesta VT-2 propeller blade failed due to extensive fatigue cracking. The complete factual report is included in the accident docket.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:45 PDT
Nearest AirportCaldwell Industrial Airport (0nm)
Runway12
Runway Length5500 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledUnknown
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftReich Glastar
Tail NumberN617G
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-B1A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 73 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 8000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point54 / 36 C
Altimeter29.86 inHg
Observation Time17:35
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data