Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chanute, Kansas 66720
Wednesday, July 1, 1992 13:12 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE DEVELOPED A SEVERE VIBRATION DURING CRUISE FLIGHT. THE MAGNITUDE OF THE VIBRATION VARIED WITH THE POWER SETTING. THE PILOT SUSPECTED A BROKEN PROPELLER OR ENGINE MOUNT. HE ELECTED TO LAND IN A PASTURE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A HIDDEN OBSTRUCTION. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION FOUND ALL ENGINE MOUNTS INTACT. THE WOODEN PROPELLER BROKE DURING THE GROUND IMPACT. BOTH FIBER GLASS COVERS FOR THE PROPELLER TIPS WERE RECOVERED. ONLY ONE COVER HAD WOOD ATTACHED TO IT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A DELAMINATION AND INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF A PROPELLER BLADE DURING CRUISE FLIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/1/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1312
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CHANUTE
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 66720
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 1352 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 230
Weather Observation Facility ID CNU
Elevation of weather observation facility 1002
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 24
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2700
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 728
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 7 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1027
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48139
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 N18VL
NTSB Number CHI92DCQ05
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 VIRGIL LARSON
Aircraft Model VARIEZE,LONG EZ
Aircraft Series Identifier VARIEZE,LO
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight 1050
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 Feb 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TAD T. HERVAS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 11709 CROOKED LAKE BLVD.
Operator City COON RAPIDS
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 55433
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 FWS
Departure City FT. WORTH
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1020
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TOP
Destination City TOPEKA
Destination State KS
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise - normal
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 --