Christopher Coats CHALLENGER II N132BC

Summary

On 17 January 1998 at about 21:00 local time, a Christopher Coats CHALLENGER II registered N132BC was involved in an accident near Evergreen, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 January 1998 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Evergreen, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

31.4301, -86.9496

Aircraft

Christopher Coats CHALLENGER II

Registration

N132BC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brewton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL98LA031

Nobody was injured.

The undetermined failure of the propeller bolts that resulted in the inflight separation of the propeller assembly. A factor was the overpass bridge.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while cruising at 1200 feet and about thirty minutes into the flight, the 'engine began to speed.' When the pilot reduced the throttle, he noticed that the propeller assembly had separated from the engine. The pilot selected an emergency landing area on the nearby Interstate highway. The right wing of the airplane collided with an overpass bridge as the pilot attempted to fly under the bridge during the forced landing. An examination of the airframe, at the accident site, confirmed that the propeller assembly had separated from the engine assembly. During the examination of the airframe, it was also noted that the six propeller retention bolts were not present with the engine. The propeller assembly and the six propeller retention bolts were not recovered for examination. According to the pilot, he assembled the airplane in accordance with the kit instructions. The propeller assembly was installed on the engine and secured with six 5/16 inch coarse threaded bolts provided.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.