What was found
TOOK OFF, DESCRIBED AN INCREASE IN VIBRATION, SLIGHT RPM DROP DURING FLIGHT. DECLARED EMERGENCY, AND WAS ABLE TO LAND SAFELY IN A FIELD. INSPECTED AIRCRAFT, FOUND PROPELLER DAMAGE FROM TIP TOWARDS HUB, APPROXIMATELY 39 INCHES OF TOTAL DAMAGE. LARGE SECTION OF ONE PROPELLER BLADE SEPARATED IN FLIGHT. SEVERAL RADIAL CRACKS FOUND AT RIVET HOLES NEAR BLADE TIP, WHICH ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE BREAK PATTERNS WHERE THE MAJOR POINTS OF MATERIAL SEPARATION OCCURRED. OPPOSITE BLADE NOT DAMAGED, SOLDER ON OPPOSITE BLADE, CRACKS AROUND RIVET HEADS MAY INDICATE RIVET MOVEMENT, HOLE ELONGATION IN THE WOOD MATERIAL.