Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ekwok, Alaska 99580
Sunday, September 29, 2002 16:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The commercial certificated pilot was conducting a personal cross-country flight. During cruise about 700 feet agl, the airplane suddenly developed a severe vibration. He reduced engine power to idle, and then shutdown the engine. He said he landed on tundra-covered terrain. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed down and received damage to the air intake housing. After the emergency landing, the pilot discovered that about 10 inches of one propeller blade had separated from the rest of the blade. He described the separation as a straight chordwise fracture.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial separation of one propeller blade during cruise flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/29/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone --
Event City EKWOK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99580
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 591014N
Event Location Longitude 1571938W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 45
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13542
NTSB Notification Source FAA REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER
NTSB Notification Date Oct 1 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1525
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 11 2004 8:11AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\HAMG
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N723C
NTSB Number ANC02LA127
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-1150
Certified Max Gross Weight 1700
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 7 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PRESTON CAVNER
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PORT ALSWORTH
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99653
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name MICHAEL P. McCRARY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99514
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 KEK
Departure City EKWOK
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 5NK
Destination City NAKNEK
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 11 2004 8:15AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\HAMG
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --