20170603007949A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Paul R Seipt SONEX · Garfield, WA · June 3, 2017

Date: June 3, 2017 · 11:09 local
Place: Garfield, WA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N255BZ
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR17LA119
Reported as: Paul R Seipt Sonex
Reported engine: Aerovee 2.0
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 270 total93 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days

N255BZRegistration cancelled Aug 14, 2017 · Paul R Seipt SONEXS/N 0255 · Built 2016 Airframe modelPaul R Seipt SONEX Engine modelAerovee 2.04 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft departed spokane, felts field enroute to pullman, WA. While in cruise flight at 4000' MSL over Garfield WA, pilot noticed small vibration in engine then subsequently the propeller separated from aircraft. Pilot made a forced landing on state route 27 approximately 1.5 miles south of Garfield at mile marker 23. Examination of front engine case, indicates crankshaft separation at propeller flange and main forward engine bearing.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED SPOKANE, FELTS FIELD ENROUTE TO PULLMAN, WA. WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 4000' MSL OVER GARFIELD WA, PILOT NOTICED SMALL VIBRATION IN ENGINE THEN SUBSEQUENTLY THE PROPELLER SEPARATED FROM AIRCRAFT. PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON STATE ROUTE 27 APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES SOUTH OF GARFIELD AT MILE MARKER 23. EXAMINATION OF FRONT ENGINE CASE, INDICATES CRANKSHAFT SEPARATION AT PROPELLER FLANGE AND MAIN FORWARD ENGINE BEARING.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR17LA119Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportGarfield, WAThe pilot’s improper torque of screws that attached the flywheel mounting flange to the crankshaft during engine assembly, which resulted in heavy vibrations and the subsequent in-flight loss of the propeller.Jun 3, 2017 · Substantial damage