Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Connellsville, Pennsylvania 15425
Wednesday, July 21, 1982 17:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE THE STUDENT WAS TAKING OFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 300 TO 400 FT AGL. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) TOOK CONTROL AND INITIATED A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. HE STATED THAT DUE TO THE VIBRATION, HE HAD TO REDUCE THE POWER, AND WITH THE POWER REDUCTION, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE AIRPORT. WHILE MAKING A FORCED LANDING, DOWNHILL ON SOFT TERRAIN, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE METAL LEADING EDGE PORTION OF THE PROPELLER TIP HAD SEPARATED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A WOODEN SENSENICH 66LN74 PROPELLER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/21/1982
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1740
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CONNELLSVILLE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 15425
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 7
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 80
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 1855
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N62RB
NTSB Number NYC82DA161
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name THORP
Aircraft Model T-18
Aircraft Series Identifier T-18
Aircraft Serial Number 731
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 246
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DUANE SIMM
Aircraft Owner Street Address THUNDERBIRD DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City MCKEESPORT
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 15135
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DUANE SIMM
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address THUNDERBIRD DRIVE
Operator City MCKEESPORT
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 15135
Operator Code
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City CONNELLSVILLE
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1740
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City CONNELLSVILLE
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --