Incident Overview
During cruise flight, a section of approximately 9.5 inches from one of the propeller blades detached. The separation induced a severe vibration throughout the airplane. In response, the pilot reduced the throttle and moved the mixture control to the idle cut-off position, effectively shutting down the engine.
Emergency Landing
Following the engine shutdown, the pilot executed a forced landing into an area of alder bushes. Upon touchdown, the airplane nosed over.
Propeller History
Maintenance records documented that the propeller had previously sustained a strike. As part of the repair process, the propeller had been straightened and its length reduced to 80 inches.