Pulliam Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flagstaff, Arizona 86001
Tuesady, May 16, 1995 11:38 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF, A PROPELLER BLADE ROTATED TOWARD THE FEATHER POSITION. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND LANDED ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY ON AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIRPLANE THEN ROLLED DOWN THE EMBANKMENT. EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT A PITCH CHANGE CONTROL ROD END NUT BACKED OFF AND CONTACTED THE ENGINE CASE. THIS CONTACT CAUSED THE PITCH CHANGE CONTROL ROD TO FAIL, WHICH ALLOWED THE PROPELLER BLADE TO ROTATE. THE PILOT, A CERTIFICATED MECHANIC, INSTALLED THE PROPELLER ABOUT 4 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The owner/pilot improper installation of the propeller by failing to properly connect the pitch change mechanism.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/16/1995
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1138
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City FLAGSTAFF
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86001
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PULLIAM AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FLG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 7011
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1103 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID FLG
Elevation of weather observation facility 7011
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 979
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 16 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1216
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:16PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N41151
NTSB Number LAX95LA189
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name RYAN
Aircraft Model NAVION
Aircraft Series Identifier NAVION
Aircraft Serial Number 4-1151
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 15 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GEORGE B. ROBINSON, JR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9725 OBECK AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City ARLETA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91221
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code WHP
Destination City PACOIMA
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 6999
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --