Service difficulty report · Shaft · Airtrc AT301

Difficulty date
March 9, 2009
Submitted
March 9, 2009
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N3170C
Make and model
Airtrc AT301
Aircraft serial
3010591
Aircraft time
4,590 hours
Engine
Pwa R1340AN1
Engine time
727 hours
Propeller
Hamstd 12D40
Part
Shaft
Condition
Sheared
Location
Counterweight
Component
Propeller Hub · Hamstd
Component part number
12D4012
Stage of operation
NR
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
E
Precautionary procedure
A

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

AT THE TRANSITION FROM DECENT TO LEVEL FLIGHT ON A SEEDING PASS, PROP RPM WAS INCREASED AND A VIBRATION WAS FELT. AS THE THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED THE VIBRATION INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. THE ACFT WAS FORCED TO LAND AND AT LOW SPEED, FLIPPED OVER AS IT BROKE THROUGH A FOOT OF SNOW. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE COUNTERWEIGHT BEARING SHAFTS HAD SHEARED, AND WAS NO LONGER PENETRATING THE PROPELLER BLADE.