Thorp T-18 N62RB

Summary

On 21 July 1982 at about 21:40 local time, a Thorp T-18 registered N62RB, operated by Duane Simm, was involved in an accident near Connellsville, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

21 July 1982 at 21:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Connellsville, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

40.0104, -79.5808

Aircraft

Thorp T-18

Registration

N62RB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Duane Simm

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Connellsville → Connellsville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC82DA161

2 people had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE THE STUDENT WAS TAKING OFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 300 TO 400 FT AGL. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) TOOK CONTROL AND INITIATED A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. HE STATED THAT DUE TO THE VIBRATION, HE HAD TO REDUCE THE POWER, AND WITH THE POWER REDUCTION, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE AIRPORT. WHILE MAKING A FORCED LANDING, DOWNHILL ON SOFT TERRAIN, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE METAL LEADING EDGE PORTION OF THE PROPELLER TIP HAD SEPARATED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A WOODEN SENSENICH 66LN74 PROPELLER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.