Claremore Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Claremore, Oklahoma 74017
Saturday, May 8, 1999 8:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While in level cruise flight, the propeller separated from the airplane. The pilot made a forced landing at the Claremore Municipal Airport. During the approach, the airplane porpoised, so the pilot elected to touch down in a grassy area between the runway and ramp area. During landing, the nose gear collapsed and the nose wheel separated from the airplane. Examination of the propeller attaching bolts revealed that they failed in fatigue. Examination of the aft spinner bulkhead revealed that crescent shaped arcs had been punched out, elongating the bulkhead's bolt holes. According to FAA service difficulty reports and reports from mechanics, the potential exists for the aft spinner bulkhead to slide off of the crankshaft flange bushings and rest on the propeller bolts during installation. The mechanic will then torque the propeller bolts with the aft spinner bulkhead pinched between the propeller spacer and the bushings. Over time the pinched sections of aft spinner bulkhead fail, leaving the propeller loose.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The fatigue fracture of the propeller bolts resulting from the improper installation of the propeller assembly.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/8/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CLAREMORE
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 74017
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CLAREMORE MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 107
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 725
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 220
Weather Observation Facility ID TUL
Elevation of weather observation facility 725
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
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) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 468
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 600
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 8 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4546J
NTSB Number FTW99FA132
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 Grumman American
Aircraft Model AA-5B
Aircraft Series Identifier AA-5B
Aircraft Serial Number AA5B-1283
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 8 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 57
Airframe Hours 1791
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES M. INHOFE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1924 SOUTH UTICA, SUITE 530
Aircraft Owner City TULSA
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 74104
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
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 --
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 NONE
Departure City KETCHUM
Departure State OK
Departure Country
Departure Time 815
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 2DT
Destination City OKLAHOMA CITY
Destination State OK
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 --