# NTSB MIA93IA083: Aero Commander 500, N3836C, Everglades City, FL, March 7, 1993

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 7, 1993, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Everglades City, FL
- Location: 25.8601° N, 81.3804° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Everglades City, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8601&lon=-81.3804&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33183
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA93IA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33183/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93IA083

## Probable cause

THE PREEXISTING FATIGUE CRACKING OF THE PROPELLER HUB ARM IN THE BEARING RETENTION RADIUS DUE TO POLISHING AND WEAR OF THE RADIUS FROM CONTACT WITH THE SPLIT RINGS, RESULTING IN A PROPELLER BLADE SEPARATING FROM THE PROPELLER HUB ON THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN, AND SUBSEQUENT ABORTED TAKEOFF.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - aborted
  - propeller system/accessories,hub - failure,total
  - propeller system/accessories,hub - fatigue (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT-IN-COMMAND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF WHEN A PROPELLER BLADE FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE SEPARATED FROM THE RIGHT PROPELLER SYSTEM. EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER HUB BY THE NTSB MATERIALS LABORATORY DIVISION REVEALED THE PROPELLER HUB ARM FAILED DUE TO PREEXISTING FATIGUE CRACKING IN THE BEARING RETENTION RADIUS, FROM POLISHING AND WEAR OF THE RADIUS FROM CONTACT WITH THE SPLIT RINGS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3836C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3836C), registered now, S/N 791 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 500
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 500](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500) (registry code 0141102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 500-791
- Airframe hours: 4861
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A2B 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Palm Beach Aviation
- Registered owner: Palm Beach Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 3, 1993, 30 hours before
- Departed: X01
- Destination: PBI, W. PALM BEACH, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: XO1, Everglades, runway 15, 2,400 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,760 total, 2,333 in this make and model, 8,560 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 6 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FMY, 25 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).

- [Incident 19930307014919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930307014919I), Mar 7, 1993: Gulstm 500RKWELL, Everglades, FL, Minor damage. Pilot aborted takeoff when propeller blade separated from propeller on right engine.

## Other investigations on N3836C (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 MIA85IA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85IA156), Apr 24, 1985: Rockwell AC-500 (N3836C), Palm Beach, FL, incident, minor damage

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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