# NTSB ANC18LA008: Cloud Jeffrey Ferrell Long EZ, N754T, Eufaula, AL, November 11, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 11, 2017, 09:35 local (15:35 UTC) - Place: Eufaula, AL - Coordinates: 31.95861, -85.128334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9586&lon=-85.1283&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 15, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96325 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC18LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96325/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96325 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA008 ## Probable cause The in-flight separation of a portion of the propeller, which subsequently penetrated the right rudder, as a result of the failure of the bond line between two of the propeller’s wood layers. Contributing to the failure of the propeller was the manufacturer’s use of an inappropriate bonding agent. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Propeller system: propeller assembly](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046110): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Failure (probable cause) - [Propeller system: propeller assembly](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046110): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Design (probable cause) - [Manufacture/production: equipment manufacture](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04013010): Organizational issues › Development · Manufacturer (probable cause) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a personal flight in an experimental airplane. While in cruise flight, the airplane "violently began shuddering," and the pilot immediately shut down the engine and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane was unable to reach the selected runway and landed about 200 ft short of the runway threshold in a rough, grassy area. After exiting the airplane, the pilot discovered that a portion of the trailing edge of the wood propeller had separated and penetrated the lower half of the right rudder control surface. A postaccident examination of the remaining portion of the wood propeller determined that the propeller was manufactured from laminations of defect-free hard maple lumber that showed no signs of decay. An inspection of the separation surface indicated that the individual layers of the propeller were laminated together using an adhesive that resulted in a light-colored bond line. The failure surface included an exposed portion of the bond line between two wood layers that had failed. Examination of this bond line showed minimal wood failure that was about 8 inches long and between 1/8 and 1/4 inch wide. The amount of cured adhesive observed varied considerably along the length of the failure surface's bond line, with an area of the bond line having minimal adhesive coverage. According to the propeller manufacturer, the propeller was carved by hand and assembled using an adhesive that is advertised as "ideal for interior wood application." However, the adhesive had not been tested for applications in which extreme temperature fluctuations, pressure, and vibrations would be expected, such as those experienced during airplane operations. ## Factual narrative On November 11, 2017, about 0935 central standard time (CST), a Cloud Jeffery Ferrell Long EZ airplane, N754T, landed short of the runway during a forced landing at Wheedon Field (KEUF), Eufaula, Alabama. The private pilot and passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was being operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 visual flight rules personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Marianna Municipal Airport (KMAI), Marianna, Florida, about 1000 eastern standard time, and was destined for Falcon Field (KFFC), Atlanta, Georgia. However, due to deteriorating weather conditions en route, the destination was changed to KEUF. No flight plan had been filed. According to a statement from the pilot, while flying about 7,500 ft msl, about 9 miles northeast of KEUF, "suddenly and without warning the aircraft violently began shuddering." The pilot immediately shut down the engine and turned the airplane towards KEUF. During the turn, he noticed the right rudder control surface was damaged. Due to winds and orientation to the runway when the engine was shut down, the airplane was unable to reach the runway and landed about 200 ft prior to the runway edge in a rough, grassy area. Upon exiting the airplane, the pilot discovered a portion of the trailing edge of the propeller had separated and penetrated the lower half of the right rudder control surface, which resulted in substantial damage. The separated portion of the propeller was not located. The wood propeller, manufactured by Ed Sterba Propellers, was removed from the aircraft and sent to the US Department of Agriculture's Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, for examination under the NTSB supervision. The examination determined that the propeller was manufactured from laminations of defect-free hard maple lumber that was absent of any decay. An inspection of the separation surface, using a low magnification hand lens, indicated that the individual layers of the propeller were laminated together using an adhesive that resulted in a light-colored bond line. The failure surface included an exposed portion of the bond line between two wood laminae that had failed. Examination of this bond line showed minimal wood failure about eight inches in length and between 1/8" and 1/4" wide. It was noted that the amount of cured adhesive observed varied considerably along the length of the failure surface's bond line, with an area of the bond line having minimal adhesive coverage. According to the propeller manufacturer, the propeller was carved by hand using hard maple lumber. The adhesive used was Weldwood® Plastic Resin Glue. Weldwood is a ureaformaldehyde product that is advertised as "ideal for interior wood application." In a letter to the NTSB from DAP Products Inc., the adhesive manufacturer, it was stated "DAP has not qualified this product for use on any aircraftcomponent such as hand-carven wooden propeller, nor has it been tested for applications where extreme temperature fluctuations, pressure and vibration would be expected." The closest official weather observation station is Columbus Airport (KCSG), Columbus, Georgia, which is located about 35 miles northeast of the accident site. At 0851, a METAR was reporting, in part, wind 090° at 11 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; clouds and ceiling clear; temperature 50° F; dew point 39° F; altimeter 30.35 inches of Mercury. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N754T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N754T), registered now, S/N 1763-L, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CLOUD JEFFREY FERRELL LONG EZ - Registry model: [Cloud Jeffrey Ferrell LONG EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/cloud-jeffrey-ferrell-long-ez) (registry code 056331N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1763-L - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 177.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 118 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 5, 2017 - Departed: MAI, MARIANNA, FL - Destination: FFC, ATLANTA, GA - Airport: EUF, Weedon Field, runway 18, 5,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, unknown; last flight review February 6, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 248 total, 177 in this make and model, 210 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.35 inHg - Observed at: KCSG, 35 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20171111018469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171111018469A), Nov 11, 2017: Cloud Jeffrey LONG EZ, Eufaula, AL, Substantial damage. While in cruise flight at 7,500FT, the pilot stated the aircraft started vibrating violently. Pilot shut down engine and performed emergency landing at… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 3, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96325. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 709 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461587&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Sterba) (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461588&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Sterba)-Master.PDF - Letter from Resin Manufacturer (item 3, .PDF, 225 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461589&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Letter%20from%20Resin%20Manufacturer-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461590&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.