# NTSB CEN09CA510: Wohnoutka Steven M Team Z MAX, N301SS, Iowa, LA, July 4, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 4, 2009, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Iowa, LA
- Coordinates: 30.250278, -92.971946 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2503&lon=-92.9719&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74487
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA510
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74487/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74487
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA510

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine thrust during initial climb due to the failure of the airplane's propeller as a result of preexisting damage.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Propeller system: propeller blade section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Wohnoutka Steven M TEAM Z MAX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111/cases.md?model=05625H7), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111/cases.md)
- [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Maintenance personnel; cases with it: [Wohnoutka Steven M TEAM Z MAX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05625H7), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Wohnoutka Steven M TEAM Z MAX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=05625H7), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Wohnoutka Steven M TEAM Z MAX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05625H7), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Wohnoutka Steven M TEAM Z MAX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05625H7), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Wohnoutka Steven M TEAM Z MAX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05625H7), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During initial climb from the airfield, the airplane began to shake violently and the propeller broke apart. The non-certified pilot turned the airplane in an attempt to return to the airfield. The pilot was unable to land at the airfield and elected to perform a forced landing to an adjacent field. During the landing roll the airplane contacted a levee and nosed over, coming to rest in an inverted position. In an interview with Federal Aviation Administration inspectors, the pilot stated that he had recently installed an experimental propeller on the airplane and during a ground test run the propeller made an unusual sound and the pilot discovered a "nick" on the leading edge of one of the propeller blades. The pilot notified the manufacturer, who recommended that the pilot trim the propeller portions down. The pilot, who was neither a certified repairman nor the airplane's builder, performed maintenance on the airplane and propeller prior to flight.

## Factual narrative

During initial climb from the airfield, the airplane began to shake violently and the propeller broke apart. The non-certified pilot turned the airplane in an attempt to return to the airfield. The pilot was unable to land at the airfield and elected to perform a forced landing to an adjacent field. During the landing roll the airplane contacted a levee and nosed over, coming to rest in an inverted position. In an interview with Federal Aviation Administration inspectors, the pilot stated that he had recently installed an experimental propeller on the airplane and during a ground test run the propeller made an unusual sound and the pilot discovered a "nick" on the leading edge of one of the propeller blades. The pilot notified the manufacturer, who recommended that the pilot trim the propeller portions down. The pilot, who was neither a certified repairman nor the airplane's builder, performed maintenance on the airplane and propeller prior to flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N301SS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N301SS-2013-03-26), registration cancelled 2013-03-26, S/N 001SMW, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WOHNOUTKA STEVEN M TEAM Z MAX
- Registry model: [Wohnoutka Steven M TEAM Z MAX](https://openairdocs.org/model/wohnoutka-steven-m-team-z-max) (registry code 05625H7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Zenoah ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/zenoah-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 72000, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001SMW
- Engines: ZENOAH ALL MDLS A/B 25 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sale Reported
- Registered owner: Sale Reported
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: LS36, Iowa, LA
- Destination: LS36, Iowa, LA
- Airport: LS36, Light Plane Flyers Airfield

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; medical: unknown; seat: single; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observed at: KLCH, 15 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 20090704017689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090704017689A), Jul 4, 2009: Wohnou TEAMZMAX, Iowa, LA, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot departed airfiled to the north with a known crack in the wooden propeller. At about 500 feet, he felt a severe shaking and saw the propeller…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74487. 35 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319209&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Correspondence: Record of conversation with responding FSDO inspector (item 2, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319211&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%3A%20Record%20of%20conversation%20with%20responding%20FSDO%20inspector-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.

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