Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fairview, Montana 58838
Monday, June 20, 2005 9:30 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While en route at approximately 100 feet above the ground during an aerial application operation, one of the airplane's two propeller blades separated from the propeller hub. Subsequently, the remaining propeller blade and hub separated from the airplane, culminating with the pilot making a forced landing to an open field. Examination of the propeller assembly revealed that the propeller blade model was the correct blade for the propeller; however, the propeller model was not approved for the Cessna 188A with a TCM IO-520 engine. It was also revealed that the propeller should have been filled with red dyed oil for crack detection. A visual inspection of the aircraft revealed no evidence of red dyed oil on the surface of either propeller blade or the propeller hub. A further inspection of the separated propeller blade indicated that the failure occurred within the outboard blade retention threads.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

While in cruise flight a separation of a propeller blade as a result of a propeller hub crack. Factors contributing to the accident included the installation of an unapproved propeller, and the failure to properly service the propeller with red dyed oil for crack protection.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/20/2005
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Fairview
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58838
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 475150N
Event Location Longitude 1043759W
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 935 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID SDY
Elevation of weather observation facility 1984
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 27
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.14
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18849
NTSB Notification Source Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Jun 20 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2005 6:27AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Helena, Montana

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2133U
NTSB Number SEA05LA121
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 188A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18800653
Certified Max Gross Weight 3300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Roy Mehling
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Hardin
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59034
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Craig Mehling
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Hardin
Operator State MT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 59034
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 5U6
Departure City Fairview
Departure State MT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 915
Departure Time Zone MDT
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 Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 19 2005 4:43PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
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 --