Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Delphi, Indiana 46923
Friday, July 31, 1992 11:50 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN PROPELLER SEPARATED. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT FIELD WITH HIGH GRASS. THE LANDING GEAR SANK INTO THE GROUND DURING THE ROLLOUT, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT FOUR OF SIX PROPELLER RETAINING BOLTS WERE CRACKED AND RUSTED ACROSS THEIR DIAMETER IN AMOUNTS VARYING FROM 30 TO 100%.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

SEPARATION OF THE PROPELLER WHILE IN FLIGHT, AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN TO EFFECT A FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/1992
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1150
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City DELPHI
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46923
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID LAF
Elevation of weather observation facility 606
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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) 2670
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
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 N2739
NTSB Number CHI92DEX04
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 ALKIRE
Aircraft Model PIETENPOL
Aircraft Series Identifier PIETENPOL
Aircraft Serial Number 1
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jul 25 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 402
ELT Installed No
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 ALKIRE, RICHARD P
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 6760 OAKFIELD DR.
Operator City DAYTON
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 45415
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 5I8
Departure City GREENTOWN
Departure State IN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RZL
Destination City RENSSELAER
Destination State IN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 --