On August 29, 1993, a Beech 95 (registration N9CE) was involved in an aviation accident near Kingman, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Fatigue cracking of the retention screw. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A propeller separated from the left engine after a blade failed due to fatigue cracking of the retention screw. The pilot executed a gear-up landing in an open area. The retention screw was subject to manufacturer service bulletins.
Accident Summary
The propeller separated from the left engine after a propeller blade separated from its hub assembly. The pilot subsequently landed the aircraft with the landing gear retracted in an open area.
Investigation Findings
A metallurgical examination of the separated propeller blade revealed fatigue cracking of its retention screw. The retention screw was the subject of two service bulletins issued by the manufacturer on October 23, 1981, and August 27, 1982. These bulletins required replacement of older retention screws with newer ones at the next propeller overhaul.
Maintenance History
The recommended overhaul interval for the propeller assembly is five calendar years or 2,000 flight hours, whichever occurs first. The engine logbook indicated that the last recorded propeller overhaul was performed on January 5, 1978.