What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot noticed oil on windscreen and contacted Aspen approach to return to kase. After completing a 180 degree turn the pilot heard a loud bang and felt a shudder. The windshield then became covered with oil. He then declared an emergency and returned to the departure airport. At the time the pilot first noticed oil, he was climbing thru 16,000 feet and was 12.5 miles from the airport. Upon landing pilot noticed that the crankshaft had broken allowing the propeller and crankshaft flange to depart the aircraft. M or d report to be filed by prentice hubble at the FBO in Aspen.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT NOTICED OIL ON WINDSCREEN AND CONTACTED ASPEN APPROACH TO RETURN TO KASE. AFTER COMPLETING A 180 DEGREE TURN THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG AND FELT A SHUDDER. THE WINDSHIELD THEN BECAME COVERED WITH OIL. HE THEN DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. AT THE TIME THE PILOT FIRST NOTICED OIL, HE WAS CLIMBING THRU 16,000 FEET AND WAS 12.5 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. UPON LANDING PILOT NOTICED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN ALLOWING THE PROPELLER AND CRANKSHAFT FLANGE TO DEPART THE AIRCRAFT. M OR D REPORT TO BE FILED BY PRENTICE HUBBLE AT THE FBO IN ASPEN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.