What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 4/8/00, while in cruise flight (approx 7500 feet MSL) near Libby, MT, N54AS, an Szd-45A ogar lost a propeller blade. The pilot recognized the problem, shut the engine down and executed an emergency landing at Libby, MT. With no additional damage to a/c. the blade separated at the hub at an attaching bolt hole. Post accident investigation showed that there was possibly as pre-existing crack in the blade. In addition to the separated propeller blade, which was not recovered, the engine mount was damaged to the point it will require a major repair to return it to an airworthiness condition. Also, there was damage to engine components due to the extreme vibration.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 4/8/00, WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT (APPROX 7500 FEET MSL) NEAR LIBBY, MT, N54AS, AN SZD-45A OGAR LOST A PROPELLER BLADE. THE PILOT RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM, SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT LIBBY, MT. WITH NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO A/C. THE BLADE SEPARATED AT THE HUB AT AN ATTACHING BOLT HOLE. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THERE WAS POSSIBLY AS PRE-EXISTING CRACK IN THE BLADE. IN ADDITION TO THE SEPARATED PROPELLER BLADE, WHICH WAS NOT RECOVERED, THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS DAMAGED TO THE POINT IT WILL REQUIRE A MAJOR REPAIR TO RETURN IT TO AN AIRWORTHINESS CONDITION. ALSO, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPONENTS DUE TO THE EXTREME VIBRATION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.