1990-07-02: Mitsubishi MU-2B — Flight International — Tyndall Afb, FL

Casualties unknown • Tyndall Afb, FL, US

Probable cause

A PROPELLER BLADE FATIGUE FAILURE DUE TO IMPROPER OVERHAUL BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL NOT PERFORMING OVERHAUL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FACTORY SERVICE BULLETINS.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

THE PILOT NOTED A SEVERE VIBRATION IN FLIGHT FROM THE LEFT ENGINE. HE SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND LANDED. ONE PROPELLER BLADE WAS MISSING PART OF THE BLADE. THE FAILED ASSEMBLY WAS EXAMINED AND THE FAILED BLADE SHOWED EVIDENCE OF HIGH CYCLE, LOW STREES FATIGUE WITH A SURFACE ORIGIN. THE OTHER TWO BLADES WERE FOUND TO BE LESS THAN MINIMUM DIMENSIONS AND HAD IMPROPERLY POLISHED AND PROTECTED SURFACES.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1990-07-02 Mitsubishi MU-2B accident near Tyndall Afb, FL?

THE PILOT NOTED A SEVERE VIBRATION IN FLIGHT FROM THE LEFT ENGINE. HE SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND LANDED. ONE PROPELLER BLADE WAS MISSING PART OF THE BLADE. THE FAILED ASSEMBLY WAS EXAMINED AND THE FAILED BLADE SHOWED EVIDENCE OF HIGH CYCLE, LOW STREES FATIGUE WITH A SURFACE ORIGIN. THE OTHER TWO BLADES WERE FOUND TO BE…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1990-07-02 involved a Mitsubishi MU-2B, registration N722DM, operated by Flight International, at Tyndall Afb, FL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A PROPELLER BLADE FATIGUE FAILURE DUE TO IMPROPER OVERHAUL BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL NOT PERFORMING OVERHAUL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FACTORY SERVICE BULLETINS.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X23754. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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