the in-flight separation of a portion of one wooden propeller blade due to undetected dry rot in the wood fibers.
— NTSB Determination
According to the flight instructor, the aircraft was in cruise when a sudden severe vibration went through the airframe. The pilot shut down the engine and noted that the brass abrasion strip and part of one wooden blade had separated. The pilot landed in a field, but could not stop the aircraft before it went down an embankment and into a ravine. An airframe and powerplant mechanic who recovered the aircraft reported that he saw evidence of dry rot in the remaining wooden blade section.
According to the flight instructor, the aircraft was in cruise when a sudden severe vibration went through the airframe. The pilot shut down the engine and noted that the brass abrasion strip and part of one wooden blade had separated. The pilot landed in a field, but could not stop the aircraft before it went down…
The accident on 1996-03-23 involved a Taylorcraft DC-65, registration N36354, operated by Amelia Reid Aviation, at Fremont, CA.
the in-flight separation of a portion of one wooden propeller blade due to undetected dry rot in the wood fibers.
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