# Accident 20231114021899A: Alfred C Skinnell BD-4 EXPERIMENTAL CL, Lowell, IN, November 14, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 14, 2023, 13:30 local time
- Place: Lowell, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.1700° N, 87.2500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1700&lon=-87.2500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N931AS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N931AS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Alfred C Skinnell BD-4 EXPERIMENTAL CL (registry code 05632A2, https://openairdocs.org/model/alfred-c-skinnell-bd-4-experimental-cl) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (registry code 41594, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ALFRED C SKINNELL BD-4 EXPERIMENTAL CL
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 407 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA038) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231114021899A

## Narrative

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

ON NOVEMBER 14, 2023, AN EXPERIMENTAL BD-4 SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANE OPERATED BY A PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) AS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, DEPARTED LANSING MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (IGQ) ENROUTE TO WAY WEST AIRPARK (50II) ON A PERSONAL TRIP. APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES WEST OF SHELBY, IN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE PIC SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT DOWN IN A SOYBEAN FIELD APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF 235TH AVE AND WHITCOMB STREET IN LOWELL, IN. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED AND CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PIC SUSTAINED NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.

## 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 CEN24LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA038), Nov 14, 2023: Bede BD-4 (N931AS), Lowell, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fatigue cracking of the propeller blade root, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the propeller blade from its root. Contributing to the accident was the improper machining of the blade…

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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