FRANKLIN, LA, USA
N7498
GRUMMAN G-164A
THE AG PILOT HAD JUST FINISHED SPRAYING A LOAD OF CHEMICALS & WAS IN A TURN TO LOOK AT THE NEXT FIELD TO BE SPRAYED, WHEN THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. HE REDUCED POWER & TURNED TO LINE UP WITH A TURNROW FOR A FORCED LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT ROLLED ABOUT 300 YARDS ON SOFT TERRAIN, THEN NOSED OVER AS THE PLT APPLIED BRAKES TO AVOID A DITCH. A INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT 13 INCHES OF ONE PROPELLER BLADE WAS MISSING. A EXAM OF THE FRACTURE SURFACE SHOWED INDICATIONS OF A PRE-EXISTING CRACK ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE BLADE.
FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER BLADE, WHICH RESULTED IN SEPARATION OF THE BLADE'S TIP AND SEVERE ENGINE VIBRATION. THE SOFT TERRAIN WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
