# Propeller blade section - Type: NTSB finding subsection - Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft propeller/rotor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0104) › [Propeller system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010461) › Propeller blade section - NTSB code: 01046111 - Cases: 51 - In the probable cause: 48 - Fatal cases: 8 - All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111/cases.md - Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111/cases.md?cause=1 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111 ## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all) - 2008: 5 / 5 - 2009: 5 / 5 - 2010: 2 / 3 - 2011: 5 / 5 - 2012: 3 / 4 - 2014: 5 / 5 - 2015: 3 / 3 - 2016: 1 / 1 - 2017: 2 / 2 - 2018: 2 / 2 - 2019: 2 / 2 - 2020: 2 / 2 - 2021: 1 / 1 - 2022: 2 / 3 - 2023: 3 / 3 - 2024: 2 / 2 - 2025: 3 / 3 ## Defining events in these cases - [Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338): 25 cases - [Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340): 10 cases - [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 7 cases - [AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081): 2 cases - [Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901): 1 cases - [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 1 cases - [Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470): 1 cases - [Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342): 1 cases - [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 1 cases - [Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220): 1 cases ## Aircraft models (registry) - [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180): 2 cases - [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b): 2 cases - [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 2 cases - [TL Ultralight Sro STINGSPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/tl-ultralight-sro-stingsport): 2 cases - [Socata TBM 700](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tbm-700): 1 cases - [Piper PA 46-350P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-350p): 1 cases - [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180): 1 cases - [New Piper PA-32R-301T](https://openairdocs.org/model/new-piper-pa-32r-301t): 1 cases - [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200): 1 cases - [Piper PA-28-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-150): 1 cases ## Other findings in the same cases - [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 6 cases - [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 6 cases - [Equipment manufacture](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04013010) (Organizational issues): 3 cases - [Repair](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062015) (Personnel issues): 3 cases - [Climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035) (Aircraft): 3 cases - [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 3 cases - [Equipment design](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04011010) (Organizational issues): 2 cases - [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 2 cases - [Debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055) (Environmental issues): 2 cases - [Tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020) (Environmental issues): 2 cases ## Newest cases - [NTSB ERA25LA236](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA236), Jun 20, 2025: Sting Sport TL-2000 (N878N), Dunavant, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inflight failure of the propeller due to its exceedance of the manufacturer’s overhaul requirement. - [NTSB CEN25LA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA117), Mar 10, 2025: Vans RV-7A (N923ZA), Plainview, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper machining of the propeller blade bearing seat, which resulted in an inflight propeller blade fatigue failure. Contributing to the accident was the improper machining of the propeller hub… - [NTSB WPR25LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA096), Feb 16, 2025: Cessna 150J (N151GW), Minersville, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the propeller blade due to fatigue that originated from an impact pit sustained at an unknown time. Contributing to the accident was the failure of unknown maintenance personnel to… - [NTSB ERA24FA310](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA310), Jul 21, 2024: Williams John Titan T-51 Mustang (N751TX), Geneva, OH, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A sudden propeller overspeed and subsequent separation of the propeller blades and hub, while maneuvering at high speed and at low altitude, which resulted in a collision with a tree during the… - [NTSB ERA24LA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA303), Jul 10, 2024: Jones LONG-EZ (N4JZ), Thomasville, GA, substantial damage - [NTSB WPR24FA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24FA053), Dec 8, 2023: Beauchamp Norm Kitfox (N66180), Eloy, AZ, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The separation of a propeller blade during the initial climb due to insufficient blade retention forces. Contributing to the accident was the propeller blade retention design, manufacturing defects… - [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… - [NTSB CEN23LA218](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA218), Apr 27, 2023: Piper J3C (N6384H), Romeoville, IL, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The inflight failure of the propeller blade due to fatigue cracking from corrosion pits, initiating at the midpoint of the cambered face. - [NTSB ERA22FA387](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA387), Aug 28, 2022: Sea & Sky Krucker Cygnet (N505DB), Emily, MN, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s operation of the weight-shift control aircraft over its design gross weight and his decision to take off with the engine operating at less than the specified takeoff rpm, which resulted… - [NTSB CEN22LA250](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA250), Jun 8, 2022: Beech 58 (N78KL), Evansville, IN, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The failure of the propeller blade due to high-cycle fatigue that originated from damage that occurred at an unknown time. Contributing to the accident was the failure to identify the damage before… NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted. Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1). NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.