# NTSB DEN78FTE61: Mooney M20C, N3528H, Bennett, CO, June 6, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 6, 1978
- Place: Bennett, CO · BENNETT, CO
- Location: 39.7420° N, 104.4287° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bennett, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7420&lon=-104.4287&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 8, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141451
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FTE61
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FTE61

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1807   78/6/6    BENNETT,CO          MOONEY M20C         CR-  0  0  2  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 2230                    N3528H              PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  AGE 28, 1503 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            610 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GREELEY,CO                  RETURN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: PROPELLER                       IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: DITCHES                                   LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION W/KNOWN DEFICIENCIES IN EQUIPMENT
           POWERPLANT - PROPELLER AND ACCESSORIES: BLADES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  SUSPECTED OR KNOWN AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
                                  AIRFRAME BUFFET
        REMARKS- INDENTATION ON EDGE OF BLADE ACTED AS STRESS RISER WHERE FATIGUE CRACK DEVELOPED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3528H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3528H), registered now, S/N 20-1223, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C
- Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19780606016499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780606016499A), Jun 6, 1978: Mooney M20C, Bennett, CO, Substantial damage. Indentation on edge of blade acted as stress riser where fatigue crak developed.

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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