# Accident 20000408013389A: Szd SZD45AOGAR, Libby, MT, April 8, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 8, 2000, 16:00 local time
- Place: Libby, MT
- Airport: Libby Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.3196° N, 115.3609° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3196&lon=-115.3609&mi=10
- Aircraft: N54AS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N54AS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Pdps Pzl-Bielsko SZD-45A OGAR (registry code 8822002, https://openairdocs.org/model/pdps-pzl-bielsko-szd-45a-ogar) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Revmaster 2100 (registry code 52550, https://openairdocs.org/engine/revmaster-2100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SZD SZD45AOGAR
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA00LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA068) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000408013389A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA00LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA068), Apr 8, 2000: PZL-Bielsko SZD-45A Ogar (N54AS), Libby, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A crack in the propeller blade that developed into a complete separation of the blade.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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