# NTSB MIA99LA195: Ryan ST3KR, N47306, Lake City, FL, July 10, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 1999, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Lake City, FL - Coordinates: 30.090764, -82.730133 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0908&lon=-82.7301&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46814/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA195 ## Probable cause the improper maintenance and inspection of the propeller system, which resulted in loose and improperly torqued bolts, causing the subsequent failure of a propeller blade. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - maintenance,annual inspection - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - propeller system/accessories - loose part/bolt/nut/clamp/etc (cause) - propeller system/accessories,blade - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis While at a cruise altitude of 2,500 feet msl the pilot reported that the airplane started to vibrate. He attempted to shut down the engine with no response. He elected to land at a nearby airport, and landed without incident. Examination of the airplane revealed that the propeller came loose from the flange. All of the propeller bolts were found backed out, and none of the bolts were safety wired. The pilot had just purchased the airplane. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed that several inches of the leading edge of one blade of the propeller was missing. One of two propeller blades split in half from the center to the tip, the propeller bolts were found loose, and all evenly backed out approximately one quarter inch. No locking device or safety wires were attached to the bolt heads. The data sheet does not list the propeller for installation on this aircraft. There were no log book entries found to indicate that the propeller bolts were torqued or tracked on installation or at annual inspection. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 1999, about 1330 eastern standard time, a Ryan ST3KR, N47306, registered to an individual, received substantial damage during cruise flight, and made a forced landing at the Lake City Airport, Lake City, Florida. The airline transport-rated pilot reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed in the vicinity, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was being conducted in accordance with Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had originated at Albany, Georgia, at 1300. At a cruise altitude of 2,500 feet msl, and about 7 to 8 miles north of Lake City, the pilot reported that the airplane started to vibrate. He attempted to shut down the engine with no response. The only response he could get was to the throttle. He elected to land at Lake City, and landed without incident. Examination of the airplane revealed that the propeller came loose from the flange. All of the propeller bolts were found backed out, and none of the bolts were safety wired. The pilot had just purchased the airplane. According to the FAA inspector's statement, when he examined the airplane after the accident he observed, "...several inches of the leading edge of one blade of the propeller missing...broken across [the] grain and glue lines." The inspector found the propeller loose in the hub, the bolt heads and holes in the hub were, "...very worn like it has been loose for a while with power." There were no logbook entries found to indicate that the propeller bolts were torqued or tracked on installation or at annual inspection. The FAA inspector stated the following findings, "...one of 2 propeller blades split in half from the center to the tip...the propeller bolts for [the] propeller were found loose at the hub, [and] all evenly backed out approximately one quarter inch...no locking device or safety wire were attached to the bolt heads." The data sheet does not list the propeller for installation on this aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47306](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47306), registered now, S/N 1358, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ryan ST3KR - Registry model: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-aeronautical-st3kr) (registry code 7830502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Kinner R5 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/kinner-r5-series) (registry code 37504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1358 - Airframe hours: 2847 - Engines: Kinner R-56 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary V. Snodgrass - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 1999 - Departed: ABY, ALBANY, GA - Destination: GNV, GAINSVILLE, FL - Airport: LRQ, Lake City, runway 28, 6,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 30,000 total, 12 in this make and model, 240 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GNV, 45 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 19990710008849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990710008849A), Jul 10, 1999: Ryan ST3KR, Lake City, FL, Substantial damage. Acft propeller separated in flight, the pilot made an emergency landing, and the acft was destroyed. (.19) on July 10, 1999, about 1330 eastern standard time,… 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.