What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
5/22/2021 - 1500 CDT - 4 people on board . In stable cruise 5500' they experienced a high vibration estimated by crew to be an engine problem. They declared an emergency and landed at the nearest airport. (Kpve - carroll county airport). After landing, PIC and passengers found approximately 6 inches of one propeller blade had separated in flight.
Inspector traveled to aircraft and noted:
Initial investigation by inspector found 5.75" of one prop tip missing - logbooks and PIC info in order. No additional damage found, no sign of a bird strike or any damage found anywhere on the aircraft. Prop was installed 4/3/2020 by previous owner with a total of 271.9 hrs since last overhaul. Total time on prop is unknown.
The sheared area shows there was hidden internal damage on the leading edge emanating from an area where the prop shows signs of blending. Suspect hidden damage after blending allowed the tip to separate under load and multiple cycles.
The prop was removed and sent to hartzell for further evaluation.
As the FAA filed it
5/22/2021 - 1500 CDT - 4 PEOPLE ON BOARD . IN STABLE CRUISE 5500' THEY EXPERIENCED A HIGH VIBRATION ESTIMATED BY CREW TO BE AN ENGINE PROBLEM. THEY DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED AT THE NEAREST AIRPORT. (KPVE - CARROLL COUNTY AIRPORT). AFTER LANDING, PIC AND PASSENGERS FOUND APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES OF ONE PROPELLER BLADE HAD SEPARATED IN FLIGHT.
INSPECTOR TRAVELED TO AIRCRAFT AND NOTED:
INITIAL INVESTIGATION BY INSPECTOR FOUND 5.75" OF ONE PROP TIP MISSING - LOGBOOKS AND PIC INFO IN ORDER. NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE FOUND, NO SIGN OF A BIRD STRIKE OR ANY DAMAGE FOUND ANYWHERE ON THE AIRCRAFT. PROP WAS INSTALLED 4/3/2020 BY PREVIOUS OWNER WITH A TOTAL OF 271.9 HRS SINCE LAST OVERHAUL. TOTAL TIME ON PROP IS UNKNOWN.
THE SHEARED AREA SHOWS THERE WAS HIDDEN INTERNAL DAMAGE ON THE LEADING EDGE EMANATING FROM AN AREA WHERE THE PROP SHOWS SIGNS OF BLENDING. SUSPECT HIDDEN DAMAGE AFTER BLENDING ALLOWED THE TIP TO SEPARATE UNDER LOAD AND MULTIPLE CYCLES.
THE PROP WAS REMOVED AND SENT TO HARTZELL FOR FURTHER EVALUATION.