Summary
On April 08, 2000, a Pzl-bielsko SZD-45A OGAR (N54AS) was involved in an incident near Libby, MT. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: A crack in the propeller blade that developed into a complete separation of the blade.
On April 8, 2000, about 1600 mountain daylight time, a PDPS PZL-Bielsko, SZD-45A Ogar, N54AS, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14CFR91 personal pleasure flight, was substantially damaged when a portion of the propeller blade separated while in a cruise flight configuration. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Coeur D'Alene, Idaho (COE), approximately four hours prior to the accident.
The pilot stated that the aircraft was in a powered cruise configuration at 7,500 feet mean sea level (msl) when one blade of the Maloof (C4.5X58) propeller separated from the propeller hub.
This incident is documented in NTSB report SEA00LA068. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N54AS.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
A crack in the propeller blade that developed into a complete separation of the blade.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On April 8, 2000, about 1600 mountain daylight time, a PDPS PZL-Bielsko, SZD-45A Ogar, N54AS, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14CFR91 personal pleasure flight, was substantially damaged when a portion of the propeller blade separated while in a cruise flight configuration. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Coeur D'Alene, Idaho (COE), approximately four hours prior to the accident.
The pilot stated that the aircraft was in a powered cruise configuration at 7,500 feet mean sea level (msl) when one blade of the Maloof (C4.5X58) propeller separated from the propeller hub. The pilot initiated a descent and subsequent forced landing at Libby Municipal Airport (S59), Libby, Montana, without further incident.
An FAA Inspector from the Spokane, Washington, Flight Standard District Office inspected the aircraft after the accident and reported that the propeller blade separated near the propeller blade root. The inspector also stated that there appeared to be a preexisting crack in the area of the separation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA00LA068