TOLEDO, OH, USA
N4049P
PIPER PA-23-160
WHILE PRACTICING ILS APPROACHES AND RECEIVING VECTORS, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ONE BLADE OF THE RIGHT PROPELLER. THE PILOT/FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO SECURE THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE HUNG DOWN AND PREVENTED FULL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. WITH FULL POWER ON THE LEFT ENGINE, THE AIRCRAFT MADE A SLOW DECENDING TURN TO THE RIGHT UNTIL IMPACT WITH A UTILITY POLE, TREES, A VEHICLE AND THE TERRAIN. A POST IMPACT FIRE ERUPTED AND CONSUMED MOST OF THE FUSELAGE. ONE PERSON ON THE GROUND RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES FROM FALLING TREE LIMBS. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER HUB. FACTORS CONCERNING INITIATION OF THE FATIGUE FRACTURE WERE NOT POSSIBLE FROM PHYSICAL EVIDENCE FOUND.
FATIGUE FRACTURE, FOR REASONS UNDETERMINED, WHICH LEAD TO THE LOSS OF A PROPELLER BLADE FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE. THIS IN TURN LEAD TO THE MARGINAL CONTROLLABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
