What happened
On June 28, 2016, at approximately 14:45 UTC, a Cessna 150 operated by Aeroklub Wrocławski was conducting a VFR flight from Mirosławice (EPMR) to Wrocław-Szymanów (EPWS). The flight plan included a passage over runway 29 at Wrocław-Strachowice (EPWR). During this transit, the pilot heard an impact and observed a small, silver object falling behind the aircraft. Suspecting a bird strike, the pilot immediately decided to perform an emergency landing. The pilot notified the control tower of the situation, though an official emergency state was not declared.
The landing at Wrocław-Strachowice was completed successfully. During the landing roll, the pilot reported the loss of the propeller hubcap. After taxiing to taxiway C and shutting down the engine, a post-flight inspection revealed that the hubcap was missing, leaving only a damaged disc on the engine shaft. No other damage to the aircraft was identified.
The investigation
Following the incident, airport personnel inspected runway 29 near the midpoint. They recovered the destroyed propeller hubcap along with seven smaller fragments. The investigation confirmed that no bird strike had occurred. Airport operations at EPWR were briefly interrupted but resumed 15 minutes after the event.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the improper balancing of the rotating propeller hubcap, which led to its detachment, for reasons that remain undetermined.