Goshen Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Milford, Indiana 46542
Monday, January 5, 2009 11:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was in cruise flight when the pilot heard a "loud bang followed by a violent vibration." He secured the engine and executed a forced landing to an open field. A postaccident examination revealed that a 20-inch length of one of the propeller blades had separated. Metallurgical examination revealed a fatigue failure of the propeller blade initiating from an area of corrosion. Corrosion pitting was observed over the entire cambered surface of the blade. The propeller had accumulated 2,326 hours total time in service. The most recent annual inspection was completed approximately 2 months prior to the accident. Federal Aviation Administration publications and the manufacturer's documentation recommended a detailed visual inspection of the propeller for corrosion during an aircraft annual inspection.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine thrust due to the separation of a section of one of the propeller blades as a result of fatigue failure of the propeller because of corrosion. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the mechanic to detect and address the propeller corrosion during the annual inspection.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/5/2009
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Milford
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46542
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 412404N
Event Location Longitude 0855120W
Event Location Airport Goshen Muni
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GSH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 7
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 827
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID GSH
Elevation of weather observation facility 827
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KGSH 051553Z AUTO 23007KT 10SM CLR M06/M09 A
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25476
NTSB Notification Source FAA-South Bend FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2009 11:50AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N28862
NTSB Number CEN09LA132
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP.
Aircraft Model AA-5B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AA5B0869
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 31 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 3377
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name MILLER CHAD
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City TOPEKA
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46571-9731
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name MILLER CHAD
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City TOPEKA
Operator State IN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 46571-9731
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 25IN
Departure City Howe
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GSH
Destination City Goshen
Destination State IN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 22 2009 9:46AM
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 --