Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rutland, Iowa 50582
Saturday, July 4, 1992 8:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE PILOT NOTED AN ENGINE VIBRATION FOLLOWED BY AN INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE PROPELLER AND SPINNER. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED IN A SOYBEAN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER IN SOFT TERRAIN. THE PROPELLER AND SPINNER WERE RECOVERED STILL ATTACHED TO THE FRONT PORTION OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT. EXAMINATION OF THE CRANKSHAFT SHOWED AN AREA OF WEAR AT THE KEYSLOT WHERE THE PROPELLER FLANGE IS FITTED OVER THE SHAFT. EXAMINATION OF THE INSIDE WALLS OF THE PROPELLER FLANGE SHOWED AN 'AREA OF CONCENTRATED FRETTING WHICH LEFT A DISTINCT WEAR MARK THAT MATCHES THE FRACTURE SURFACE OF THE FAILED CRANKSHAFT.' ACCORDING TO MAINTENANCE RECORDS THE CONVERTED AUTOMOTIVE ENGINE HAD BEEN IN SERVICE SINCE MAY 23, 1987 AND HAD ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY 387 HOURS IN SERVICE. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION ON THE AIRPLANE WAS ACCOMPLISHED ON MAY 21, 1992, APPROXIMATELY 3 FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/4/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 815
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City RUTLAND
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50582
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 816 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID FOD
Elevation of weather observation facility 1157
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2773
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 6 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 708
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N84JS
NTSB Number CHI92DCD08
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 JOHN SCHACKEL
Aircraft Model Q2
Aircraft Series Identifier Q2
Aircraft Serial Number 2329
Certified Max Gross Weight 1000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 21 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 387
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SCHACKEL, JOHN A
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2993 15TH AVE NE
Aircraft Owner City FORT DODGE
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50501
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SCHACKEL, JOHN A
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2993 15TH AVE NE
Operator City FORT DODGE
Operator State IA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 50501
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DOD
Departure City FORT DODGE
Departure State IA
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EST
Destination City ESTHERVILLE
Destination State IA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --