Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Utica, New York 13503
Friday, September 27, 1991 13:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING CLIMB, ONE OF THE FOUR PROPELLER BLADES ON THE NUMBER TWO ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE PROPELLER HUB, DAMAGING ANOTHER PROPELLER BLADE AND THE FUSELAGE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. THE ROTATIONAL UNBALANCE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY EXTREME VIBRATION AND RESULTED IN DISTORTION AND DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE/COWL ASSEMBLY AND THE WING. THE UPPER PORTION OF THE ENGINE COWL WAS DEFLECTED UPWARD OVER THE WING AT AN ANGLE OF ABOUT 30 DEG, RESULTING IN DISTORTION OF AIRFLOW, BUFFETING, AND DEGRADATION OF ROLL CONTROL. DUE TO EXCESSIVE DRAG, MAXIMUM POWER WAS REQUIRED ON THE NUMBER ONE ENGINE IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE RATE OF DESCENT AND LAND SUCCESSFULLY. A METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION DISCLOSED EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE CRACKING OF THE PROPELLER HUB ARM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FATIGUE CRACKING OF THE PROPELLER HUB.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/27/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1315
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City UTICA
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13503
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 6007
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45885
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number CFFSS
NTSB Number NYC91LA250
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 129: Foreign
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MITSUBISHI
Aircraft Model MU-2B-60
Aircraft Series Identifier MU-2B-60
Aircraft Serial Number 783SA
Certified Max Gross Weight 11575
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Foreign Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Sep 15 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 4756
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIR 500 LIMITED
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2450 DERRY RD. E HANGAR 9
Aircraft Owner City MISSISSAUGA
Aircraft Owner State CD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR 500 LIMITED
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2450 DERRY RD. E HANGAR 9
Operator City MISSISSAUGA
Operator State CD
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight International
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SYR
Departure City SYRACUSE
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BED
Destination City BEDFORD
Destination State MA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --