# NTSB ATL03LA130: Piper PA-28-140, N8496R, Winchester, TN, August 20, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 2003, 20:15 local (Aug 20, 2003, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Winchester, TN - Coordinates: 35.556945, -87.183334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5569&lon=-87.1833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Memphis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57771 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL03LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57771/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA130 ## Probable cause A maintenance personnel failure to follow propeller inspection procedures that resulted in a fatigue failure of a propeller blade and the subsequent forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Propeller failure/malfunction, cruise - normal - propeller system/accessories,blade - separation (cause) - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause) - propeller system/accessories,blade - fatigue (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the pilot while in cruise flight at 4500 feet mean sea level, the airplane began shaking violently. The pilot shut down the engine and saw part of one propeller blade missing. The pilot executed a forced landing into a field 12 miles east of Winchester, Tennessee. Examination of the downed airplane revealed that the propeller was fractured 17.5 inches from the hub center. There were fatigue features that originated from a nick on the flat face of the propeller. Paint from the flat face extended into the nick, indicating that the nick was present when the propeller was last painted. The shape of the nick boundary indicates that it was not blended. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2003, at 2015 central daylight time a Piper PA-28-140, N8496R, registered to and operated by the private pilot collided with the ground following a partial loss of one propeller blade while in cruise flight in Winchester, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated in Collegedale, Tennessee on August 19, 2003, at 1945. The flight was enroute to Maury Regional Airport, Columbia, Tennessee. According to the pilot while in cruise flight at 4500 feet mean sea level, the airplane began shaking violently. The pilot saw smoke coming from under the dashboard. The pilot shut down the engine and saw part of one propeller blade missing. The pilot attempted to radio contact Memphis approach control to declare an emergency, but there was no response. The pilot executed a forced landing into a field approximately 12 miles east of Winchester, Tennessee. A review of the engine logbook showed that the leading edge of the propeller had a nick, and was filled during an annual inspection on March 8, 2002. Examination of the downed airplane revealed that the propeller was fractured 17.5 inches from the hub center. The National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory examination of the propeller reported fracture features typical of fatigue. The fatigue features originated from a nick on the flat face approximately 0 .8 inch away from the leading edge of the propeller. Examination of the propeller blade showed paint from the flat face extended into the nick. According to a representative from the Sensenich Propeller Manufacturing Company, the repair manual does not specify a minimum size for damage requiring repair. The representative suggested that any visible damage to the propeller should be blended. The nick was of sufficient size that it would have been visible to the naked eye. The shape of the nick boundary indicates that it was not blended. Examination of the downed airplane revealed that the nose wheel was separated. The right wingtip was damaged. The motor mount broke and the engine was canted downward. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8496R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8496R-2009-07-14), registration cancelled 2009-07-14, S/N 28-22408, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-22408 - Airframe hours: 4149.75 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 2003, 0.88 hours before - Departed: 3M3, Collegedale, TN - Destination: MRC, Columbia, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 29, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: CHA, 20 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 20030819021139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030819021139A), Aug 19, 2003: Piper PA28140, Winchester, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) A/c enroute from collegedale, TN (3M3) to columbia, TN (mrc) and at cruise altitude of 4500 ft., part of the propeller blade left the a/c. the massive… 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.