TURLOCK, CA, USA
N22955
ANDRIS KR2
THE AIRCRAFT HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR SIGNED OFF BY THE FAA, NOR HAD AN EXPERIMENTAL AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE BEEN ISSUED. THE PILOT'S FLIGHT RECORDS REVEALED THAT HIS LAST LOGGED FLIGHT WAS IN 1985, AND HIS LAST BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW WAS IN 1984. THE PILOT TOLD FAA INSPECTORS THAT AT FIRST HE WAS JUST GOING TO DO ANOTHER HIGH SPEED TAXI TEST, 'BUT THE DAY WAS SO NICE' THAT HE DECIDED TO FLY. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 30 AND WAS ON CROSSWIND WHEN THE PROPELLER SEPARATED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT. THE PILOT TURNED BACK TOWARDS THE RUNWAY, BUT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO MAKE THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH HIGH-TENSION POWER LINES. THE FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE PROPELLER IS ATTACHED TO A FLANGE, WHICH IN TURN IS SECURED TO THE VOLKSWAGEN ENGINE CRANKSHAFT BY MEANS OF A BOLT AND COTTER PIN. THE PIN WAS FOUND SHEARED AND THE BOLT BACKED OUT. EVIDENCE OF FULL THREAD ENGAGEMENT AT SOME TIME WAS NOTED ON THE BOLT. THE INSPECTOR STATED THAT 5.7 HOURS OF GROUND RUN AND TAXI TESTS HAD BEEN COMPLETED BY THE PILOT PRIOR TO THIS FIRST FLIGHT.
On April 3, 1995, at 1420 hours Pacific daylight time, a noncertificated experimental homebuilt Andris KR2 airplane, N22955, collided with power lines while attempting to return to the Turlock, California, airport following a loss of the propeller during the takeoff initial climb. The airplane was being operated by the pilot/owner on its first test flight following construction completion. The airplane was destroyed in the collision sequence. The certificated private pilot incurred minor injuries. The local area test flight was originating at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to the pilot's verbal and written statements, at first he was just going to do another high speed taxi test, "but the day was so nice" that he decided to fly. The aircraft departed runway 30 and was on crosswind when the propeller separated from the crankshaft. The pilot turned back towards the runway, but had insufficient altitude to make the runway and collided with high-tension power lines. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Fresno, California, Flight Standards District Office examined the aircraft. He reported that the aircraft had not been inspected or signed off by the FAA, nor had an experimental airworthiness certificate been issued. The inspector observed that the propeller is attached to a flange, which in turn is secured to the Volkswagen engine crankshaft by means of a bolt and cotter pin. The pin was found sheared and the bolt backed out. Evidence of full thread engagement at some time was noted on the bolt. The inspector stated that 5.7 hours of ground run and taxi tests had been completed by the pilot prior to this first flight. Review of the pilot's flight records by the FAA revealed that his last logged flight was in 1985, and his last biennial flight review was in 1984.
the failure of the propeller attach bolt retaining cotter pin, and the pilot/builder's inadequate preflight inspection of the aircraft prior to the attempted flight.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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