Torrance Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Torrance, California 90505
Thursday, June 28, 1990 15:18 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE HOMEBUILT SERVICED THE PROPELLER HUB WITH 120 PSI PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. AFTER TAKEOFF HE LOST CONTROL OF THE PROPELLER AND THE ENGINE LOST THRUST. EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER ASSEMBLY REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTION. THE PROPELLER BLADES HAD BEEN SHORTENED AND THE PROPELLER OVERSPEED OCCURRED BECASUE THE BLADES WERE NOT COUNTERWEIGHTED. HARTZELL STATED THE 120 PSI CHARGE IN THE HUB WAS INSUFFICIENT TO COUNTERACT THE AERODYNAMIC TWISTING MOMENTS AND PREVENT THE OVERSPEED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE AIRCRAFT COLLISION WITH THE GROUND AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE THRUST DUE TO PROPELLER OVERSPEED CONDITION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER SERVICING OF THE PROPELLER HUB THAT ALLOWED THE OVERSPEED TO OCCUR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/28/1990
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1518
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City TORRANCE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90505
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TORRANCE MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TOA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 101
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1518 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID TOA
Elevation of weather observation facility 101
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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) 1584
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 28 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1535
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42854
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:03PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N350JP
NTSB Number LAX90DUA01
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 HOMEBUILT
Aircraft Model JP-350-1
Aircraft Series Identifier JP-350-1
Aircraft Serial Number 88350-1
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 36
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN G. PARKER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3915 MESA ST.
Aircraft Owner City TORRANCE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90505
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3915 MESSA ST.
Operator City TORRANCE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 90505
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1514
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 9 2002 11:33AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29R
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --