# Accident 20110828019649A: Wheeler Dean S VANS RV-6A, Albany, OR, August 28, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 28, 2011, 13:45 local time
- Place: Albany, OR
- Airport: Albany
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.6569° N, 123.0528° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6569&lon=-123.0528&mi=10
- Aircraft: N642DW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N642DW-2017-06-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Wheeler Dean S VANS RV-6A (registry code 05627BE, https://openairdocs.org/model/wheeler-dean-s-vans-rv-6a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Superior IO-360 series (registry code 59251, https://openairdocs.org/engine/superior-io-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WHEELER DEAN S VANS RV-6A
- Reported engine: SUPERIOR IO-360
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 908 total, 297 in this make and model, 64 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11LA412](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA412) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110828019649A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 28, 2011, ABOUT 1345 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEELER VANS RV-6A, N642DW, EXPERIENCED IN-FLIGHT SEPARATION OF A PROPELLER BLADE DURING CLIMB OUT FROM THE ALBANY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, ALBANY, OREGON. FOLLOWING DEPARTURE OF THE BLADE ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST, AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A GRASS FIELD A FEW MILES NORTH OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE PROPELLER BLADE SEPARATION EVENT. THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE WAS BUILT BY THE PILOT. NEITHER THE PILOT NOR PASSENGER WAS INJURED DURING THE PERSONAL FLIGHT.  NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM ALBANY ABOUT 1341. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A FEW MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT A VIBRATION WHEN AN ALUMINUMPROPELLER BLADE (MANUFACTURED BY M-T PROPELLER) SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE, WRINKLES IN THE ALUMINUM UPPER SURFACE OF BOTH ELEVATORS, AND A PORTION OF THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE FIREWALL WAS BENT. ONE ENTIRE PROPELLER BLADE WAS MISSING FROM THE CRACKED HUB. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE PROPELLER ASSEMBLY HAD UNDERGONE MAINTENANCE ON THREE OCCASIONS.  THESE OCCASIONS WERE PROMPTED BY THE PILOT'S OBSERVATION OF HUB GREASE SEEPING ONTO THE SHANK PORTION OF THE BLADES.  HAVING OBSERVED THIS LEAKAGE, THE PILOT REMOVED THE PROPELLER AND HUB ASSEMBLY AND RETURNED IT TO AMERICAN PROPELLER SERVICE FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR. THE PROPELLER HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT FOR SEVEN HOUR PRIOR TO THE COMPONENT FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT ACCIDENT.THE ENTIRE PROPELLER ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN RECOVERED AND IS BEING STORED AT NM FSDO 09.NM FSDO 09 IS AWAITING NTSB INSTRUCTIONS FOR HANDLING AND DISPOSITION OF THE PROPELLER ASSEMBLY.

## 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 WPR11LA412](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA412), Aug 28, 2011: Wheeler Vans RV-6A (N642DW), Albany, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight separation of a propeller blade due to fatigue.

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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