Incident Overview
On 28 June 2016, a pilot flying a Cessna 150 operated by Aeroklub Wrocławski was conducting a VFR cross-country flight from EPMR (Mirosławice airfield) to EPWS (Wrocław-Szymanów airfield). The flight plan included an overflight of runway 29 at Wrocław-Strachowice Airport (EPWR).
Events During Flight
At 14:45 UTC, during the overflight, the pilot heard a thud. Looking back, he observed a small silver object falling behind the aircraft. Suspecting a bird strike, he decided to perform an immediate precautionary landing and informed the control tower without declaring an emergency. The landing was uneventful.
Post-Landing Inspection
During the landing roll, the pilot reported the loss of the propeller spinner. After taxiing to taxiway C, stopping the aircraft, and shutting down the engine, the pilot conducted a visual inspection. He found the spinner missing; only a damaged backplate remained on the engine crankshaft. No other damage was observed.
Recovery and Runway Closure
Airport personnel later recovered the destroyed spinner and seven smaller pieces from runway 29, near the midpoint. No evidence of a bird strike was found. Airport operations were suspended for 15 minutes following the incident.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the incident was caused by a lack of proper balancing of the rotating element (the spinner) for an unknown reason. No safety recommendations were issued.