# Fatal NTSB investigations: Propeller failure/malfunction NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports. ## Latest cases - [NTSB NYC06LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06LA097.md): Piper PA-28-140 · Avondale, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 16, 2006 · N15507 · Destroyed > Separation of the propeller blade due to fatigue. - [NTSB LAX03FA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03FA074.md): Beech 95 · Rancho Cucamong, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 25, 2003 · N2733Y · Destroyed > The fracture and separation of a propeller blade during cruise flight due to fatigue and corrosion pits in the blade pilot bore, and an improper overhaul of the separated propeller by repair station personnel. Factors contributing to the accident were the… - [NTSB FTW01LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA005.md): Holt Thorpe T-18C · Imperial, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 4, 2000 · N85LH · Destroyed > the failure of the propeller blade due to fatigue, which originated from a corrosion crack. A contributory factor was the pilot/owner's failure to ensure that the propeller was overhauled at the manufacturer's recommended interval. - [NTSB LAX00LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA023.md): Luhnau BD-5B · Boulder City, NV · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 22, 1999 · N62765 · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to secure an electrical wire terminal in the propeller pitch control circuit following a maintenance adjustment, which resulted in the propeller malfunctioning and going to a flat pitch. The flat pitch of the propeller produced a high drag… - [NTSB FTW99FA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99FA148.md): Beech C18S · Waldron, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 24, 1999 · N9729H · Destroyed > the separation of a propeller blade in cruise flight as a result of fatigue cracking emanating from surface corrosion pitting. - [NTSB LAX97FA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97FA291.md): Hefner Pitts S1S · Van Nuys, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 17, 1997 · N10HJ · Destroyed > the operation of the propeller beyond the design rpm limitations and the resultant gyroscopic loads from aerobatics. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a required instrument panel rpm restriction for the propeller mandated by an airworthiness… - [NTSB ANC97FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97FA024.md): de Havilland DHC-4A · Sparrevohn, AK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 30, 1997 · N702SC · Destroyed > loss of the right engine propeller control oil, which led to an overspeed of the right engine and propeller, and necessitated a shut-down of the right engine; and failure of the pilot to maintain adequate altitude/distance from terrain during visual approach… - [NTSB CHI96FA278](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96FA278.md): Lancair 320 · Fond Du Lac, WI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 8, 1996 · N320L · Destroyed > the fatigue in the propeller flange with soft material and oversized lightening holes. A factor was the pilot's inability to maintain control of the aircraft due to the exceeded weight and balance which led to a stall/spin. - [NTSB LAX96FA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96FA049.md): Beech S35 · Oxnard, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 19, 1995 · N5795K · Destroyed > failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed during a missed approach, after encountering an undetermined propeller malfunction, which resulted in a stall and collision with the terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, fog, and the… - [NTSB FTW96FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96FA009.md): Rupe RV-4 · Longmont, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 7, 1995 · N61TR · Destroyed > the installation of an unapproved metal propeller which led to a fatigue failure of a blade and loss of aircraft control. - [NTSB LAX95LA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA314.md): Piper PA-23-250 · Marana, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 30, 1995 · N7156T · Destroyed > the pilot's poor installation of the propeller which allowed the propeller to become loose, and the pilot's improper emergency procedure by feathering the wrong propeller. - [NTSB DCA95MA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA95MA054.md): Embraer EMB-120RT · Carrollton, GA · Accident · 8 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Aug 21, 1995 · N256AS · Destroyed > the in-flight fatigue fracture and separation of a propeller blade resulting in distortion of the left engine nacelle, causing excessive drag, loss of wing lift, and reduced directional control of the airplane. The fracture was caused by a fatigue crack from… - [NTSB FTW95FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95FA001.md): Mcmurtrie Jurca MJ-10 · Bartlesville, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 1, 1994 · N379SF · Destroyed > An inadvertent pilot-induced stall at too low an altitude to effect a safe recovery. Factors were the malfunctioning propeller system and the uncommanded feathering of the propeller. - [NTSB CHI94FA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94FA340.md): Beech E95A · Poplar Grove, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 20, 1994 · N9581Y · Destroyed > Aircraft control not maintained by the pilot when he began his turn from base leg to final approach. Factors associated with this accident were the fatigue failure of a propeller blade, improper maintenance overhaul of the propeller, and a material defect in… - [NTSB LAX94LA361](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA361.md): North American P-51D · Reno, NV · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 12, 1994 · N51U · Destroyed > the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during an attempted forced landing. Factors in the accident were the failure of a propeller blade-feathering oil seal which leaked oil on the windshield, obscuring the pilot's vision. ## The whole list in SQL Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS: ```sql SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT o.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 131) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?fatal=1&occurrence=131 --- 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.