Pilot Debrief

ERCOUPE 415-C near Mesquite, NV — 2013-04-14

Final reportWPR13LA191
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Date
2013-04-14
Location
Mesquite, NV, USA
Airport
67L
Aircraft
ERCOUPE 415-C
Registration
N87114
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

Separation of the propeller from the engine during initial climb due to the incorrect torque applied to the propeller hub nut during maintenance.

NTSB narrative

The propeller departed the airplane during the initial climb following takeoff, and the pilot performed a forced landing into a rocky field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and firewall during the accident sequence; the pilot was not injured. The propeller and its associated hub mounting hardware were not recovered. The threaded portion of the crankshaft had been flattened by the propeller's hub, indicating that the hub nut was in place but had backed off during the flight. The nut had backed off most likely because the incorrect torque had been applied during its reinstallation, about 40 flight hours before the accident flight.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked propeller installation before flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 10 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents10

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