# NTSB ANC97LA046: Beech G18S, N555CG, Nome, AK, March 21, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 21, 1997, 17:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Nome, AK
- Coordinates: 64.710632, -164.62033 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7106&lon=-164.6203&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2980
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2980/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA046

## Probable cause

fracture of a propeller blade tip.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Propeller failure/malfunction, cruise
  - propeller system/accessories,blade - fractured (cause)

## Analysis

Shortly after reaching cruise altitude, the pilot heard a loud noise and felt a vibration in the left engine.  He shut the left engine down, and returned to his departure airport.  Upon landing, it was discovered that approximately eight inches of a propeller blade tip attached to the left engine had separated and impacted the nose section of the airplane.  The blade tip damaged a former in the nose, and then traveled into the right engine nacelle. A small nick was observed on the remaining blade surface that coincided with the fracture plane.

## Factual narrative

On March 21, 1997, about 1715 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Beech G-18S airplane, N555CG, sustained substantial damage when approximately eight inches of a propeller tip separated from a propeller blade on the left engine and penetrated the nose of the airplane, coming to rest in the right engine nacelle.  The solo airline transport certificated pilot was not injured.  The 14 CFR Part 135 cargo flight departed Nome, Alaska, about 1715, and was en route to Gamble, Alaska.

According to the operator's chief pilot, the pilot of the accident airplane reported the propeller tip separation occurred shortly after reaching cruise altitude.  The pilot shut down the left engine, returned to Nome and landed without incident.  An examination of the remaining portion of the propeller blade disclosed a small nick on the surface of the blade that coincided with the juncture of the fracture plane.

The accident airplane received damage to a former in the nose section, just in front of the radio bay.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N555CG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N555CG-2020-04-03), registration cancelled 2020-04-03, S/N BA-539, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Beech G18S
- Registry model: [Beech G18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-g18s) (registry code 1151010) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BA539
- Airframe hours: 16867
- Engines: P&W R985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Grant Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 12, 1997, 20 hours before
- Departed: OME
- Destination: GAM, GAMBLE, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,900 total, 850 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles

## 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 19970321004839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970321004839A), Mar 21, 1997: Beech G18S, Nome, AK, Substantial damage. Prop blade tip broke off leveling to cruise. Tip damaged nose section former had nick in blade not addressed.

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.

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