Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

August 16, 2015 · Beech V35 · N2059W

Mount Vernon, OH

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
August 16, 2015
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Mount Vernon, OH
Aircraft
Beech V35 (1965)
Tail Number
N2059W
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
CEN15IA365

The commercial pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight. The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, he heard a sudden high-pitched whine emanating from the engine and saw that the tachometer was reading about 3,500 rpm. He was unable to bring the engine rpm within limits and diverted the airplane to the nearest airport. During the approach, he heard a "pop," and oil covered the windscreen. After landing, he found that the propeller was missing from the airplane. A postaccident examination of the engine found metal particulates in the propeller governor. An examination of the governor revealed that a flyweight was not secured and that the flyweight carrier did not meet the factory hardness specifications. The flyweight's retaining pin hole was excessively worn, which had allowed the pin to back out and the flyweight to become loose and resulted in the overspeed of the propeller and engine and the subsequent in-flight separation of the propeller. A review of factory records did not find any similar incidents or a history of a batch of materials not meeting factory specifications. A review of the maintenance records revealed that an overhauled propeller governor had been installed on the airplane about 16 years before the accident; however, it could not be determined if the improper flyweight carrier was installed in the propeller governor during the overhaul or at some time after the overhaul.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loosening of the flyweight due to the installation of an improperly hardened flyweight carrier, which resulted in the overspeed of the propeller and engine and the subsequent in-flight separation of the propeller.

Full Narrative

On August 16, 2015, about 1955 eastern daylight time, a Beech V35 airplane, N2059W, experienced a propeller and engine over speed while in cruise flight near Mount Vernon, Ohio. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The propeller separated from the propeller flange inflight and no damage was sustained to the airplane. The airplane was registered to the Bennett Ramsey Group and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from the Rowan County Airport (KRUQ), Salisbury, North Carolina, at 1800 and was en route to the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport (KARB), Ann Arbor, Michigan.According to the pilot, while in cruise flight at 8,000 feet mean sea level, he heard a sudden high pitched whine from the engine. He saw that the engine tachometer read about 3,500 rpm. Unable to bring the engine rpm within limits, the pilot declared an emergency and headed towards the Knox County Airport (4I3). While on final approach to the airport, the pilot heard a "pop" and oil covered the windscreen. The pilot landed on the runway and discovered that the propeller was missing from the airplane. A postaccident examination of the engine found metal particles in the propeller governor. The propeller governor was removed from the airplane and sent to the manufacturer for an examination. An x-ray revealed that the flyweight was loose from its position and a bench-test of the governor would not be possible. Under the auspices of the Federal Aviation Administration, the governor was disassembled and examined. The hole for the flyweight retaining pin on the flyweight carrier was excessively worn and was not be able to properly secure the retaining pin. With the flyweight loose, the proper loading on the propeller governor pilot valve could not be maintained and the engine and propeller speed would then be commanded between 130-150%. A hardness test of the installed carrier did not meet factory specification and did not appear to be case hardened. Internal components were different than the factory original and it is likely that the governor had been overhauled at least once after it had left the manufacturer in 1966. Woodward did not have any record of a deficient batch of flyweight carriers not meeting hardness requirements and the history of the installed carrier flyweight is not known. Based on records provided by the owner, an engine logbook entry dated October 4, 1999, documented that an overhauled propeller governor was installed on the airplane. No further log book entries pertaining to the propeller governor were found in the provided records. Based off the information provided, it could not be determined if the incorrect part was installed in the propeller governor during the overhaul or at a time subsequent to the overhaul.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time19:55 EDT
Nearest AirportKnox County (0nm W)
Runway28
Runway Length5498 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBeech V35
Tail NumberN2059W
Aircraft CategoryAir
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-BA · Reciprocating · 285
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 69 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter30.12 inHg
Observation Time00:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data