DFW05CA158

The pilot was cruising in an antique bi-plane at 3,500 feet, with a power setting of approximately 2,150 rpm, when the engine developed a severe vibration. The pilot shut down the engine and noticed that the outboard portion of the wooden propeller blade had "splintered" and was missing. During the subsequent forced landing, the aircraft went through a barbed wire fence and hit a metal fencepost. The propeller manufacturer was unable to determine the reason for the propeller failure, and noted no abnormalities existed in the propeller.

On June 10, 2005, approximately 1605 central daylight time, a single-engine Rose Parakeet A-1 antique bi-plane, NC18252, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following the de-lamination of the wood propeller near Boyd, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injures. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Brownwood Regional Airport (BWD) near Brownwood, Texas, and was destined for the Gainesville Municipal Airport (GLE) near Gainesville, Texas.

The 2,106-hour pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 3,500 feet, with a power setting of approximately 2,150 rpm, the engine developed a severe vibration. The pilot stated that he immediately reduced the power and "cut the magneto switch." He then noticed that the outboard portion of a propeller blade had "splintered" and was missing.

The pilot selected a field to execute a forced landing. During the landing rollout, the airplane went through a barbed wire fence and collided with a metal fence-post. The airplane came to rest in the upright position on its nose.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who examined the airplane at the accident site, noted that the airplane's right wing spar sustained structural damage, the fuselage's lower longeron and left wing tip were bent. The wooden propeller's metal leading edge and tip was missing and the propeller showed signs of de-lamination. The pilot also reported that the airplane's cowling, carburetor, and right gear tripod were damaged.

The airplane's wooden propeller was removed and sent to the manufacturer for further examination. The propeller manufacturer could not determine the reason for the failure, and noted no abnormalities existed in the propeller.

At 1545, the automated weather observing system at the Decatur Municipal Airport (LUD), near Decatur, Texas, approximately 10 miles north of the accident site, reported wind from 160 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 22 knots, 10 miles visibility, sky clear, temperature 88 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 63 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.74 inches of Mercury.