# NTSB ERA19LA228: Pietenpol BIG Piet, N973BP, Gainesboro, TN, July 16, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 16, 2019, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Gainesboro, TN - Coordinates: 36.395832, -85.641387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3958&lon=-85.6414&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99858 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99858/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99858 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA228 ## Probable cause Separation of the spinner cap for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence, which resulted in contact and subsequent separation of the wooden propeller blade tip. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Propeller system: prop/spinner section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046113): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Davis Barry E PIETENPOL BIG PIET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046113/cases.md?model=05628J6), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046113/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Davis Barry E PIETENPOL BIG PIET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=05628J6), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Davis Barry E PIETENPOL BIG PIET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05628J6), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Davis Barry E PIETENPOL BIG PIET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05628J6), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Davis Barry E PIETENPOL BIG PIET, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05628J6), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that about 2 hours into a cross-country flight, he experienced an airplane vibration and determined a section of the propeller departed the airplane. He shut the engine down due to severe vibration. He intended to land at the nearest airport but realized the airplane would not reach the runway and set up for a landing on a grass field. The airplane landed hard and the landing gear split, buckling the lower longerons. The airplane then slid into the airport perimeter fence. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left wing was damaged, and the fuselage frame was bent. The propeller spinner was not located at the accident site and one propeller blade was missing the blade tip. The wood propeller was sent to the propeller manufacturer for further investigation. Examination determined the portion of the missing blade separated as a result of a strike to the propeller by an object. The examination could not definitively identify the spinner as the object that struck the blade; however , it is likely the missing spinner departed the airplane inflight and impacted the propeller blade. The reason the spinner departed the airplane could not be determined based on available evidence. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2019, about 1300 central daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Pietenpol Big Piet airplane, N973BP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Jackson County Airport (1A7), Gainesboro, Tennessee. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. According to the pilot, he was about 2 hours into the flight when the airplane experienced a vibration. He intended to land at the nearest airport and investigate the problem; however, as soon as he turned toward 1A7, a section of the propeller departed the airplane. The engine started to "tear itself loose," so he shut the engine off. The pilot then attained best glide speed for 1A7, but the headwind increased, and the airplane landed hard short of the runway, splitting the landing gear split and buckling the lower longerons. The airplane then slid into the airport perimeter fence. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the leading edge of the left wing was damaged, and the fuselage frame was bent severely enough to restrict movement of the fuel shutoff linkage. The aluminum propeller spinner was not located at the accident site. The airplane was equipped with a Culver two-bladed wood propeller. The unpainted spinner cap was attached to the propeller through a bracket attached to the propeller bolt holes. A single screw held the spinner cap. The propeller was sent to the propeller manufacturer for further investigation. The investigation revealed a section of the propeller was missing at the tip with fibers bent backward and a crack radiating from the location of the missing piece toward the hub, consistent with contact from an unidentified object. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N973BP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N973BP), registered now, S/N BP003, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIETENPOL BIG PIET - Registry model: [Davis Barry E PIETENPOL BIG PIET](https://openairdocs.org/model/davis-barry-e-pietenpol-big-piet) (registry code 05628J6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: BP003 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 93 - Engines: Davis, Barry AMA/EXP 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 8, 2019, 13 hours before - Departed: MMI, Athens, TN - Destination: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Airport: 1A7, Jackson County, runway 36, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 28, 2019; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 227 total, 21 in this make and model, 146 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KSRB, 21 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 20190716005709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190716005709A), Jul 16, 2019: Davis Barry E PIETENPOL BIG PIET, Gainesboro, TN, Substantial damage. While passing K1A7 (en route to airventure, oshkosh, WI) pilot felt abnormal airframe vibrations and attempted an emergency landing on runway 180. During turn… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99858. 10.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8924656&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB_6120.0_filled_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8924922&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20IIC%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8924583&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Piet%20Logbook_N973BP_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8923972&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=investigative%20Photo%27s-Rel.pdf - Propeller email report (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 297 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8924189&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Culver%20Props%20Report%20-%20Pietenpol1_Redacted-Rel.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.