On November 23, 2003, a Beech H-18 (registration N22XL) operated by Matthew P. Kibler was involved in an aviation accident near Westminster, MD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after a failure of one propeller system. Factors in the accident were the failure to perform maintenance inspection and the failure of a bolt in the left propeller blade system. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During takeoff roll, the airplane yawed right and failed to maintain altitude. After clearing one ravine, the pilot aborted the takeoff, touched down in grass, and came to rest in a larger ravine. Examination revealed a separated stud on a left propeller blade pitch change link.
Event
During the takeoff roll, approximately at the time of rotation, the airplane yawed to the right and was unable to maintain altitude. The aircraft cleared one ravine, after which the pilot retarded the throttles to abort the takeoff. The airplane then touched down in a grass area and came to rest at the bottom of a larger ravine.
Examination
Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed that a stud, which was attached to the pitch change link in one of the left propeller blades, had separated. The last annual inspection of the airplane had been performed approximately 4 years and 5 months prior to the accident.
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