Mooney M20J N4671H

Summary

On 25 February 1999 at about 15:08 local time, a Mooney M20J registered N4671H, operated by Robert M. Hill JR., was involved in an accident near St. Cloud, Florida, United States. 3 people were 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

25 February 1999 at 15:08

Classification

Accident

Location

St. Cloud, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Kissimmee Municipal (ISM)

Coordinates

28.2410, -81.2794

Aircraft

Mooney M20J

Registration

N4671H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert M. Hill JR.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Pierce → Kissimmee

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA99LA091

Nobody was injured.

The improper installation of the propeller by maintenance personnel resulting in fretting of the face of the propeller hub and fatigue failure of the No. 1 propeller blade. Also, the unsuitable terrain encountered during the descent for the forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While descending, the pilot noted a slight vibration when the throttle only was reduced. He then felt a jolt and the windscreen became covered with oil. He reduced the throttle to idle, initiated a descent for a forced landing in a field, and while descending, the left wing collided with a tree. The airplane then touched down gear up in the field, bounced, and came to rest upright. Post accident examination revealed the No. 1 propeller blade was fractured with only a segment of that blade inside the propeller hub. The No. 2 propeller blade outer bearing race was cracked, and fretting was noted on the face of the propeller hub. Metallurgical examination of the fractured propeller blade revealed evidence of fatigue with no evidence of corrosion or mechanical damage. The No. 2 propeller blade outer bearing race was cracked due to overstrees. Examination of the propeller hub revealed severe fretting inboard of the attach bolts and evidence of gouging on the pilot bore. Review of the maintenance records revealed that the propeller was last installed July 15, 1997; and had accumulated 150.81 hours since last installation at the time of the propeller blade fracture.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.