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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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July 23, 2018 · Grumman AA5 B · N74420

Brazoria, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 23, 2018
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Brazoria, TX
Aircraft
Grumman AA5 B (1975)
Tail Number
N74420
Operator
Rjm-Av8
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN18LA292

The student pilot and his flight instructor were conducting a local instructional flight when the airplane began to shake violently. A reduction of engine power revealed that one of the propeller blades had separated about midspan. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and completed an uneventful forced landing in a nearby field. A postaccident examination revealed several fractured engine mounts. A laboratory examination of the propeller revealed that about one-half of one blade had fractured. Further examination of the flat portion of the fracture surface revealed a pattern of crack arrest lines and striations that were consistent with fatigue cracking. The pattern of crack arrest lines indicated that the fatigue cracking emanated from the trailing edge tip of the blade. Damage to the fracture surface at the trailing edge tip of the blade obscured the exact initiation point of the fatigue cracking. The propeller had accumulated about 4,499 hours since its last overhaul, and about 11 hours since it was last examined during an annual inspection.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft-Aircraft propeller/rotor-Propeller system-Propeller blade section-Fatigue/wear/corrosion

Full Narrative

On July 23, 2018, about 1215 central daylight time, a Grumman AA-5B, N74420, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Brazoria, Texas. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the student pilot, the airplane began to shake violently while he practiced basic-attitude maneuvers under simulated instrument meteorological conditions. A reduction of engine power revealed that the one of the propeller blades had separated about midspan. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and completed an uneventful forced landing in a nearby field. A postaccident examination revealed several fractured engine mounts. The two-blade propeller, a McCauley Propeller Systems model No. 1A170/FFA7563, serial No. P77410, was examined at the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory in Washington, D.C. About one-half of one blade had separated and was not located during the investigation. The fracture surface was flat from the trailing edge through roughly two-thirds of the chord length, before angling from the center outwards adjacent to the blade surface. Further examination of the flat portion of the fracture surface revealed a pattern of crack arrest lines and striations that were consistent with fatigue cracking. The pattern of crack arrest lines indicated that the fatigue cracking emanated from the trailing edge tip of the blade. Damage to the fracture surface at the trailing edge tip of the blade obscured the exact initiation point of the fatigue cracking. According to the propeller logbook, the most recent propeller inspection was completed in conjunction with an annual inspection on November 1, 2017, at which time the propeller had accumulated 4,488 hours since its last overhaul. The airplane had been flown about 11 hours since the last annual inspection.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:15 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGrumman AA5 B
Tail NumberN74420
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRjm-Av8
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A4K · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 54 · Second Class · None
Crew 2Age 40 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind260° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter29.92 inHg
Observation Time16:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data