What happened
During a final sowing mission, an aircraft was performing its takeoff roll when the pilot observed what appeared to be an engine overspeed. Due to this mechanical issue, the aircraft was unable to lift off from the runway. The aircraft subsequently veered off the end of the airstrip and settled into a shallow gully.
Findings
Post-accident investigations focused on the condition of the propeller assembly. Investigators discovered that one propeller blade had become detached from its feathering axis, allowing it to rotate freely. While a second pitch change knob showed signs of bending and cracking, it remained attached to the blade. A metallurgical examination of the components revealed that the failure of the pitch change knob on the primary blade was caused by ductile overload. Crucially, the analysis determined that the damage to the pitch change knobs was a result of the impact with the ground rather than an in-flight failure. The investigation did not identify a specific reason why the aircraft failed to achieve flight.