Seven Springs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Seven Springs, Pennsylvania 15469
Friday, September 1, 2000 14:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While at 5,000 feet in VMC, the right engine spinner look unusual to the pilot. He reduced the throttle, but could not identify the problem, so he secured the engine. A tear in the spinner was identified. The pilot restarted the engine, but then shut it down because of a vibration. The pilot advised ATC that he had secured the engine, and needed to divert. While on short final, the pilot realized he would not make his intended touchdown point, because the airplane was too high. With the airplane 'sinking excessively,' the pilot decided to go around. He advanced the throttle on the left engine, the airplane rolled right, and then impacted trees. The right spinner had a 1/2-inch crack that started at its base and ran perpendicular to the rotation of the propeller. The crack then transitioned to a tear. The fracture surface for the crack was grayish in color, and consistent with fatigue. The POH stated that the pilot was to check the propeller and spinner for 'nicks, security and oil leaks,' prior to flight. The recommended safe single-engine speed for the airplane was 92 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain the manufacture's recommended safe single-engine airspeed, which resulted in a velocity-minimum-control roll to the right. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path to his intended touchdown point, which resulted in a single engine go-around attempt.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/1/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1450
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SEVEN SPRINGS
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 15469
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport SEVEN SPRINGS AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7SP
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 2907
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1445 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 346
Weather Observation Facility ID LBE
Elevation of weather observation facility 1185
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 711
NTSB Notification Source Great Lakes Region OPS CTR
NTSB Notification Date Sep 1 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1542
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 10 2001 4:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8978Z
NTSB Number NYC00LA246
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 310G
Aircraft Series Identifier 310G
Aircraft Serial Number 0078
Certified Max Gross Weight 4990
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 2357
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES DOVER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2539 SULLIVAN RD
Aircraft Owner City COLLEGE PARK
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30337
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 FFC
Departure City ATLANTA
Departure State GA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1405
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GFL
Destination City GLENS FALLS
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 10 2001 4:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 3045
Runway Width 42
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --