Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Grand Rapids/Itasca County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Grand Rapids, Minnesota 55744
Sunday, June 8, 2008 20:30 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The pilot stated that about 40 minutes into the flight he heard a loud noise followed by a rapid deceleration of the engine, and then a "distinct bang." The windshield was immediately covered with a film of oil, completely obstructing forward visibility. He established a descent at best glide airspeed and established a course for the nearest suitable airport. During the descent, the engine continued to run rough and smoke entered the cockpit. It became apparent to the pilot that he did not have enough altitude to reach the airport. He attempted to increase engine power in order to slow the descent; however, the engine seized shortly afterward. He set up for a forced landing to a clearing adjacent to a set of power lines. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and a utility pole, which separated the left tip tank and left aileron from the airframe. The airplane slid approximately 50 feet and came to rest upright. A postaccident inspection revealed that the propeller assembly had separated from the engine propeller flange. The propeller flange appeared intact. The propeller assembly was not recovered. Two propeller bolt fragments and one propeller alignment pin fragment were recovered from the engine cowling. Examination of the fracture surfaces revealed features consistent with reverse bending fatigue cracking. In addition, the washer faces of both nuts were worn and polished consistent with relative movement against the crankshaft flange. Maintenance records indicated that the propeller spinner bulkhead was replaced approximately one year prior to the accident in order to comply with a manufacturer's service letter. At the time of the accident, the propeller assembly had accumulated 1,906 hours total time in service, with 235 hours since replacement of the spinner bulkhead. About 531 hours had accumulated since overhaul of the propeller assembly.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
A loss of engine thrust due to the propeller separating from the aircraft as a result of fatigue failure of the propeller attachment bolts caused by the insufficient torque of the bolts during installation.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 6/8/2008 |
| Event Day of the Week | Sunday |
| Time of Event | 2030 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | Grand Rapids |
| Event State | MINNESOTA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 55744 |
| Event Date Year | 2008 |
| Event Date Month | 6 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 471240N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0933035W |
| Event Location Airport | Grand Rapids/Itasca County |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | GPZ |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 2 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 1355 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 2035 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 270 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | GPZ |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 1355 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 2 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 6500 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | -- |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Overcast |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 15 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 12 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | -- |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Variable |
| Wind Speed (knots) | -- |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | Calm |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.75 |
| 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 | 3 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 25007 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA-AGL ROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | Jun 9 2008 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Feb 5 2009 8:06AM |
| User who most recently changed record | bowl |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | FAA-Minneapolis FSDO |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N7214Y |
| NTSB Number | CHI08LA154 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | IFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | Yes |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | BEECH |
| Aircraft Model | A36 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | E-2169 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 4000 |
| 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 | 6 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Retractable |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Mar 21 2008 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 49 |
| Airframe Hours | 3214 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | Unknown |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | Unknown |
| Aircraft Owner Name | P-AIR AVIATION LLP |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | PO BOX 579 |
| Aircraft Owner City | CHANHASSEN |
| Aircraft Owner State | MN |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 55317-0579 |
| Operator is an individual? | Yes |
| Operator Name | Harold Dahl |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | Chanhassen |
| Operator State | MN |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 55317 |
| Operator Code | -- |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| 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 | INL |
| Departure City | International F |
| Departure State | MN |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1945 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | FCM |
| Destination City | Minneapolis |
| Destination State | MN |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Cruise |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jan 5 2009 11:49AM |
| User who most recently changed record | sort |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |