On November 22, 1991, a Cessna 310R (registration N35H) operated by New Creations, Inc was involved in an aviation accident near South ST Paul, MN. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Metal fatigue of propeller blades. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Two propeller blades separated from the right engine at about 100 feet during climb, penetrating the nose. The pilot shut down the engine, feathered the remaining blade, and landed safely. Investigation found metal fatigue caused the blade failure.
Event Summary
During initial climb after departure, when the airplane reached approximately 100 feet above ground, two blades from the right engine propeller separated from the assembly. These blades struck and penetrated the nose section of the airplane. The pilot promptly shut down the right engine and feathered the remaining propeller blade to reduce drag. The pilot then maneuvered the airplane back to the departure airport and completed a landing without any further incident.
Investigation Findings
Post-accident examination of the propeller assembly determined that the blade failures were caused by metal fatigue. A comprehensive teardown of the engine and inspection of the crankshaft counterweights did not reveal any evidence of pre-impact mechanical issues or anomalies. The propeller assembly had accumulated a total service time of approximately 3,229 hours, of which about 295 hours had been logged since its last overhaul and installation on the accident airplane.
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