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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

September 14, 2019 · Smyth Sidewinder No Series · N492AC

Tucumcari, NM

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 14, 2019
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Tucumcari, NM
Aircraft
Smyth Sidewinder No Series (2003)
Tail Number
N492AC
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR19LA273

The pilot reported that during cruise flight, the engine momentarily started to run rough before he heard a loud bang followed by a separation of a portion of the propeller blade. The pilot shut the engine down and performed a forced landing to open desert terrain, during which the airplane impacted vegetation, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination of the propeller blade revealed a chordwise fracture across the propeller about 12 inches from the hub. The fracture origin area exhibited a small pit, consistent with progressive crack growth from a flat fracture surface in the area identified as the origin. The pit was likely initiated by corrosion, as it exhibited evidence of chlorine-containing salts. No maintenance logbooks were located for the propeller, and its total time in service and most recent inspection were not determined.

NTSB Probable Cause

The in-flight separation of a section of a propeller blade due to a fatigue crack, which resulted in a forced landing.

Full Narrative

On September 14, 2019, about 1125 mountain daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Sidewinder airplane, N492AC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tucumcari, New Mexico. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, during cruise flight at 11,500 ft mean sea level (msl), the engine momentarily started to run rough. He then heard a loud bang, followed by a portion of propeller blade separating from the fixed-pitch propeller assembly. The pilot shut the engine down by moving the mixture handle to the idle cut-off position and turning off the magneto switch; the engine continued to windmill during the descent and was “still very wobbly.” The pilot performed a forced landing to open desert terrain, during which the airplane impacted vegetation, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Review of photos of the airplane revealed that one of the propeller blades was separated about 12 inches from the hub. Examination of the propeller fracture surface revealed that the fracture origin area exhibited a small pit. Further examination with a scanning electron microscope revealed fracture features consistent with progressive crack growth from a flat fracture surface in the area that was identified as the origin. The fracture features were consistent with a fatigue fracture originating from the pit. Energy dispersive spectroscopy of the origin area revealed chlorine-containing salts, which were consistent with a corrosion-initiated pit. No propeller logbooks were located during the investigation. It could not be determined when the propeller was last inspected or overhauled, or its total time in service.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:25 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSmyth Sidewinder No Series
Tail NumberN492AC
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2A · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 27 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 16 kt, gusting 22 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59
Altimeter30.22 inHg
Observation Time16:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data