# NTSB ANC95IA173: Piper PA-28-181, N38293, Gustavus, AK, September 22, 1995 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: September 21, 1995, 17:35 local (Sep 22, 1995, 01:35 UTC) - Place: Gustavus, AK - Coordinates: 58.41941, -135.779754 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.4194&lon=-135.7798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2602 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95IA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2602/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95IA173 ## Probable cause fatigue failure of the propeller blade due to previous foreign object damage. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Propeller failure/malfunction, climb - propeller system/accessories,blade - foreign object damage (cause) - propeller system/accessories,blade - fatigue (cause) - propeller system/accessories,blade - separation ## Analysis The airplane was on climbout when the airplane began to shake and vibrate. The pilot reduced power, and returned and landed at the Gustavus Airport without further incident. Examination of the propeller showed that 4.5 to 5 inches of one propeller blade had separated. Metallurgical analysis of the blade showed fatigue cracking emanating from a nick on the leading edge. The hardness and composition of the propeller blade material met design specifications. ## Factual narrative On September 21, 1995, at 1735 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-28-181 airplane, N38293, registered to and operated by L.A.B. Flying Service of Juneau, Alaska, experienced an in-flight separation of 4.5 to 5 inches of a propeller blade tip during climbout from Gustavus, Alaska. The mail flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 135, was departing Gustavus on a company visual flight rules flight plan and the destination was Juneau, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and there was no damage to the airplane. According to the pilot, he was on climbout after taking off from Gustavus when the engine and airplane began to shake. He reduced the power to 1300 RPM and returned to Gustavus without further incident. Ground examination of the airplane's propeller showed that approximately 4.5 to 5 inches of one propeller blade had separated. The separated portion of the blade was not recovered. The propeller was submitted to the NTSB Materials Laboratory Division for metallurgical examination. The examination showed that about 60 percent of the blade cross section contained fracture features indicative of fatigue cracking. The fatigue cracking emanated from an origin area located on the leading edge of the blade. The origin area contained a nick. The entire length of the nick could not be determined because the separated piece was not recovered. However, measurements showed that the portion of the nick on the propeller blade was approximately 0.35 inch long. A sectioned piece of the propeller blade was tested for hardness and material composition, and was found to meet the design specifications. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38293](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38293), registered now, S/N 28-7790537 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7790537 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: L.A.B. Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GST - Destination: JNU, JUNEAU, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 955 total, 199 in this make and model, 895 as pilot in command, 306 in the last 90 days, 115 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 19950921037309I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950921037309I), Sep 21, 1995: Piper PA28181, Gustavus, AK, Minor damage. Prop vibration on climbout. Reduced power and returned. Five inch piece of prop blade broke off. 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.