# NTSB LAX96LA347: Piper PA-28-180, N5388L, Palm Springs, CA, July 13, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 1996, 18:10 local (Jul 13, 1996, 01:10 UTC) - Place: Palm Springs, CA - Coordinates: 33.849704, -116.559951 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8497&lon=-116.5600&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 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29571 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA347 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29571/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA347 ## Probable cause the failure of a propeller blade as a result of undetected in-service mechanical damage that caused a stress point that progressed to a point of failure. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - propeller system/accessories,blade - previous damage (cause) - propeller system/accessories,blade - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the departure climb about 2,500 feet msl, there was a loud bang, followed by severe airframe vibration. The pilot closed the throttle and pulled the mixture control into idle cutoff. The pilot established a glide and made an uneventful off-airport landing. Postaccident examination revealed that about 20 inches of one propeller blade was missing. The remaining propeller blade and hub was sent the Safety Board's Materials Testing Laboratory for analysis. The analysis report documented a crack progression starting at the blade's trailing edge and migrating forward through about 50 percent of the chord. At that point the blade failed from overload. The report indicated that a mechanical type damage had occurred at the trailing edge crack initiation point. According to the records, at the time of this accident the engine and the propeller had accumulated 307.24 hours since overhaul. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 12, 1996, about 1810 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-180, N5388L, operated by Sun Air Aviation, Inc., of Camarillo, California, was substantially damaged near Palm Springs, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight and no flight plan was filed. Neither the pilot nor the pilot rated passenger were injured. The flight originated at Bermuda Dunes, California, at 1805 as a return flight to Camarillo. The pilot stated that during the departure climb, about 2,500 feel msl, there was a loud "bang" followed by severe airframe vibration. The pilot closed the throttle and pulled the mixture control into idle cutoff and established a glide. Palm Springs Approach Control was advised of the emergency landing prior to touchdown in a dirt field. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that part of the propeller blade separated about 20 inches from the blade tip. Further examination revealed that structural damage occurred to the airframe from the imbalance. AIRCRAFT HISTORY As a result of a prior off-airport landing, the aircraft had received major repairs to the forward section of the airframe. The engine was overhauled and the propeller was replaced with a used overhauled propeller. The aircraft was returned to service with an annual inspection on December 18, 1995, at a tachometer reading of 4186.05. The engine and the propeller were listed as zero time since overhaul. According to the records, the engine had accumulated 307.24 hours since overhaul at the time of the accident. PROPELLER HISTORY The propeller had been purchased by Aircraftsman, the aircraft repair shop that performed the major repairs to the airframe. Aircraftsman purchased it from Global Aircraft, who had purchased it from a salvage dealer in Canada. The propeller was overhauled by Southern California Propeller Service for Aircraftsman on December 8, 1995, and installed on the accident aircraft. At the time of this accident, the propeller had accumulated 307.24 hours since overhaul. TESTING AND RESEARCH The damaged propeller, less the missing tip section, was sent to the Safety Board's Materials Testing Laboratory in Washington D. C., for metallurgical analysis. According to the report, "An optical examination of the fracture face revealed fatigue progression from the trailing edge forward through about 50 percent of the chord." The report indicated that the crack initiation point was a result of a mechanical type damage or impact to the trailing edge area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5388L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5388L-2013-02-08), registration cancelled 2013-02-08, S/N 28-4696, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-4696 - Airframe hours: 4439 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sun Air Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Karl G. Schott - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 12, 1996, 50 hours before - Departed: UDD, BERMUDA DUNES, CA - Destination: CMA, CAMARILLO, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 72 total, 43 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 100 °F ## 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 19960712021459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960712021459A), Jul 12, 1996: Piper PA28180, Bermuda Dunes, CA, Substantial damage. Narrative: on July 12, 1996, a Piper PA28-180 N5388L enroute from Bermuda Dunes, CA to camarillo, CA piloted by reto amman and andreas schenck sustained… ## Other investigations on N5388L (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 LAX95LA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA268), Jul 24, 1995: Piper PA-28-180 (N5388L), Santa Paula, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to perform preflight fuel consumption calculations, and his failure to refuel the aircraft. 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.