Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cokato, Minnesota 55321
Sunday, August 8, 2010 13:03 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff the propeller began making excessive noise and vibration. He reduced the engine power and looked for an area to make a precautionary landing. While the pilot executed a 180-degree turn in an effort to avoid obstacles in his flight path, the airplane decreased in altitude quicker than he anticipated and subsequently impacted the water. The airplane came to rest upright in approximately 3.5 feet of water. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that there was a separation of the composite skin on the forward face of one of the propeller blades. The separation in the skin was located about mid-span and ran the full width (chord) of the blade. The remainder of the blade appeared to be intact. The other two propeller blades appeared to be undamaged. The propeller had accumulated approximately 33 hours time in service at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he conducted a preflight inspection and there was no visible damage to the subject propeller blade.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Separation of the composite skin on one of the three propeller blades that resulted in an in-flight vibration, and the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the water while maneuvering to avoid obstacles in preparation for a precautionary landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/8/2010
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1303
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Cokato
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55321
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 450628N
Event Location Longitude 0940946W
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 1243 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 75
Weather Observation Facility ID CFE
Elevation of weather observation facility 967
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 25
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
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) 29.75
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27936
NTSB Notification Source FAA-MSP FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 2 2010 12:41PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N452TR
NTSB Number CEN10LA484
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 RAMMEL THOMAS W
Aircraft Model SEAREY
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1DK152
Certified Max Gross Weight 1430
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection May 31 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 33
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RAMMEL THOMAS W
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City COKATO
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55321-4135
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name RAMMEL THOMAS W
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City COKATO
Operator State MN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 55321-4135
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Cokato
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 12 2010 4:52PM
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 --