# NTSB CEN14LA305: Bollinger Robert L BD 4, N108BC, Fairfield, IA, June 22, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 22, 2014, 11:17 local (16:17 UTC) - Place: Fairfield, IA - Coordinates: 41.055831, -91.980834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0558&lon=-91.9808&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report January 12, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE - NTSB case key (mKey): 89505 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA305 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89505/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89505 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA305 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of airplane control due to the in-flight separation of the propeller blades for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## 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: [Bollinger Robert L BD-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111/cases.md?model=05626GD), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Bollinger Robert L BD-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05626GD), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Bollinger Robert L BD-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=05626GD), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Bollinger Robert L BD-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05626GD), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bollinger Robert L BD-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05626GD), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Bollinger Robert L BD-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=05626GD), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis A witness reported seeing the airplane take off, make a 90-degree left turn, descend, and subsequently collide with terrain about 600 ft east of the runway. A postimpact fire ensued. During the examination of the accident site, all of the airplane's structure was found except for the propeller blades. The day after the accident, the airport manager found two of the three propeller blades while he was mowing grass. Photographs of the two propeller blades showed damage consistent with the in-flight separation of the blades. Neither blade exhibited impact or thermal damage. The breaks at the hub were not bent but pulled straight out. The reason for the in-flight separation of the propeller blades could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 22, 2014, about 1117 central daylight time, a Bollinger BD-4 experimental amateur-built airplane, N108BC, impacted terrain next to at the Fairfield Municipal Airport (KFFL), Fairfield, Iowa. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.The airplane was seen to take off on runway 18, make a 90-degree left turn, descend and collide with terrain about 600 feet east of the runway. There was a post-impact fire. Four Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors went to the scene. According to the lead inspector, all of the airplane structure was accounted for with the exception of the propeller blades. Several days after the accident, the airport manager notified FAA that while mowing the grass, he had found two of the three propeller blades. Examination of the photographs taken of the propeller blades revealed damage consistent with the blades having separated in flight. Neither blade bore impact or thermal damage signatures. The breaks at the hub were not bent but pulled straight out. The third blade was never found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N108BC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N108BC-2015-07-02), registration cancelled 2015-07-02, S/N 153, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOLLINGER ROBERT L BD 4 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Bollinger Robert L BD-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/bollinger-robert-l-bd-4) (registry code 05626GD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Ford CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ford-conversion) (registry code 26701, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 153 - Year built: 1999 - Engines: FORD CONVERSION 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bollinger Robert L - Registered owner: Bollinger Robert L - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KFFL, FAIRFIELD, IA - Destination: KFFL, FAIRFIELD, IA - Airport: KFFL, Fairfield Municipal, runway 18, 5,500 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 480 total, 400 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KFFL ## 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 20140622009729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140622009729A), Jun 22, 2014: Bollinger Robert L BD-4, Fairfield, IA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft departed runway 18, climbed to approximately 200 to 300 ft AGL, all 3 propeller blades departed the aircraft approximately 3000FT from the departure… ## Other investigations on N108BC (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI01LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA022), Oct 21, 2000: Bollinger BD-4 (N108BC), Hedrick, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot not obtaining/maintaining clearance from the fence. A factors was fence. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 25, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89505. 14.0 MB in all. - FAA Inspector’s Statement (item 1, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%E2%80%99s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Google Earth View of Fairfield Municipal Airport (item 2, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Google%20Earth%20View%20of%20Fairfield%20Municipal%20Airport-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records Pertinent to the Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415593&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20Pertinent%20to%20the%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Propeller blade A found closest to runway (item 4, .PDF, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415594&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Propeller%20blade%20A%20found%20closest%20to%20runway-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Propeller blade B found furthest from runway (item 5, .PDF, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415595&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Propeller%20blade%20B%20found%20furthest%20from%20runway-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Close-up view of propeller blade B. Note clean break at hub, and the absence of impact or thermal damage. (item 6, .PDF, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415596&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Close-up%20view%20of%20propeller%20blade%20B.%20Note%20clean%20break%20at%20hub,%20and%20the%20absence%20of%20impact%20or%20thermal%20damage.-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.