Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Buffalo, New York 14225
Thursday, November 21, 1991 16:09 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLIGHT CREW DETECTED VIBRATION COMING FROM THE RIGHT PROPELLER AND MADE A DECISION TO SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. DURING THE SHUTDOWN PROCESS THE PROPELLER SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE. EXAMINATION OF BOTH PORTIONS OF THE FAILED PROPELLER SHAFT REVEALED THE SHAFT FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION FOUND A SLAG INCLUSION JUST BELOW THE FRACTURE SURFACE. THIS DEFECT OCCURRED DURING THE MELTING OF THE ORIGINAL INGOT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A FATIGUE FRACTURE ON THE PROPELLER SHAFT, THAT ORIGINATED AT A SUBSURFACE SLAG INCLUSION, WHICH REMAINED IN THE MATERIAL USED TO MANUFACTURE THE SHAFT.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 11/21/1991
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1609
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City BUFFALO
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14225
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 11
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) 78
Weather Observation Facility ID BUF
Elevation of weather observation facility 724
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 26
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2100
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
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 29
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2287
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50043
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:51AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N146CA
NTSB Number NYC92IA035
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SAAB-FAIRCHILD
Aircraft Model SF-340A
Aircraft Series Identifier SF-340A
Aircraft Serial Number 340A-146
Certified Max Gross Weight 28000
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 36
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Nov 15 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 6698
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Aircraft Owner Street Address RODNEY SQUARE NORTH
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19890
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name COM AIR INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 75021
Operator City CONCINNATI
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 45275
Operator Code COMA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight International
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CVG
Departure City CINCINNATI
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1450
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code YYZ
Destination City TORONTO
Destination State CD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --