20210515009739A

ZODIAC 601XL, N493TG WAS DEPARTING CAROL COUNTY AIRPORT HUNTINGDON, TN (HZD) AT APPROXIMATELY 2145Z, 1645CDT ON 05/15/2021 FOR LOCAL TRAINING FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, ON INITIAL CLIMB OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE PROPELLER SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LAND BACK ON THE RUNWAY DUE TO LOW ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED; HE DECIDED TO AIM FOR THE GRASS AREA EAST AND PARALLEL TO RUNWAY 01. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD A SOFT LANDING BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE HE HIT A BERM WITH A THREE TO FOUR FOOT DROP THAT BROKE THE NOSE LANDING GEAR AND THEN CONTINUED TO ROLL INTO THE AIRPORT PERIMETER FENCE AT APPROXIMATELY 2174Z, 1647CDT.

ROC NOTIFIED THE ON CALL ASI FROM THE MEMPHIS FSDO CE 21 ON 05/15/2021. FAA ASI MADE CONTACT WITH THE PILOT CONDUCTING THE INITIAL PHONE INTERVIEW ABOUT THE INCIDENT.

I WAS ASSIGNED TO THIS CASE ON 05/17/2021, AND COORDINATED WITH THE PILOT OF N493TG FOR AN ONSITE INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE AND INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT ON 05/19/2021. MY SELF AND ANOTHER ASI TRAVELED TO THE CAROL COUNTY, TN AIRPORT (HZD) WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED IN THE AIRCRAFT OWNER?S HANGAR. UPON ARRIVAL WE MET THE OWNER IN THE FBO LOBBY ALONG WITH THE AIRPORT MANAGER. WE THEN PROCEEDED TO THE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HANGAR (HANGAR E) FOR INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE INSPECTION I FOUND THE LEFT WINGTIP AND LEADING EDGE TO HAVE DENTS, PUNCTURES, AND TEARS IN THE SKIN ALONG WITH RIPPLING OF THE UPPER WING SKIN. THE RIGHT WING HAD MORE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGE THAN THE LEFT. I FOUND SEVERAL DENTS, PUNCTURES, AND TEARS ON THE RIGHT WING INCLUDING ONE LARGE TEAR ON THE OUTBOARD LEADING EDGE JUST INBOARD OF THE WINGTIP. THE UPPER WING SKIN WAS RIPPLED ALL ACROSS FROM THE LEADING EDGE AFT TO THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE WING. THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY FLIGHT CONTROLS OF BOTH WINGS WERE NOT DAMAGED AND MOVED FREELY. THE EMPENNAGE APPEARED TO BE UNDAMAGED, AND ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS, ELEVATORS AND RUDDER, MOVED FREELY. IN THE ENGINE INSPECTION I FOUND SIX BOLT SHANKS SHEARED OFF, FIVE SHEARED INTERNALLY INSIDE THE CRANK, AND ONE BOLT SHEARED EXTERNALLY; NO ALIGNMENT DOWEL PINS WERE LOCATED. NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WAS NOTED. THE ENGINE MOUNT WAS PUSHED UP AND AFT INTO THE FIRE WALL CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE AND SKIN OF THE FORWARD SECTION OF THE FUSELAGE. THE NOSE LANDING GEAR STRUT WAS BENT AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE AFT. THE LANDING GEAR MOUNTING STRUCTURE AND ATTACH POINTS AT THE FIREWALL WERE FOUND DAMAGED. THE MAIN LANDING GEAR DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY DAMAGE. THE COCKPIT CANOPY WINDSCREEN WAS BROKEN. SENSENICH E-Z PITCH COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT PROPELLER BLADE MODEL R64ZN WAS IN TWO PIECES. ONE BLADE WAS BROKEN OFF 8.5 INCHES FROM THE SHOULDER OF THE HUB ASSEMBLY, BUT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE PROPELLER DID NOT SHOW ANY EVIDENCE OF IMPACT DAMAGE. THE OPPOSING SIDE BLADE WAS CRACKED IN A SIMILAR LOCATION 7.5 INCHES FROM THE SHOULDER OF THE HUB ASSEMBLY, WITH A 6 INCH DELAMINATION ABOVE THE CRACK STARTING AT APPROXIMATELY 5.5 INCHES FROM THE HUB EXTENDING OUTBOARD TO 11 INCHES; INSPECTION OF THE LEADING EDGE OF THE PROPELLER DID NOT REVEAL ANY IMPACT DAMAGE. THE SPINNER CAP HAD DAMAGE FROM THE IMPACT OF THE GROUND. TWO OF THE SIX CAP SCREW SHANKS WERE FOUND SHEARED OFF IN THE PROP FLANGE EXTENSION. PROPELLER LOG BOOK ENTRY ON 09/03/16 HOBBS TIME 670.6 SHOWS THE UNCERTIFICATED OWNER INSTALLED THE PROP AND PERFORMED PITCH ADJUSTMENTS. LOG BOOK ENTRY ON 04/16/20 SHOW THE SAME OWNER MADE MORE PITCH ADJUSTMENTS TO MEET THE RECOMMENDED ENGINE RPM. NO FURTHER LOGBOOK ENTRIES WERE MADE. ON 10/16/2020 AN A&P MECHANIC PERFORMED THE CONDITION INSPECTION AND RETURNED THE AIRPLANE TO SERVICE. NO FURTHER LOGBOOK ENTRIES WERE MADE TO THE AIRFRAME LOGBOOK. THE PROPELLER ASSEMBLY WAS SHIPPED TO THE NTSB FOR LABORATORY TESTING ON 04 JUNE 2021.