Druine TURBULENT D-31 N4697T

Summary

On 16 July 2001 at about 14:52 local time, a Druine TURBULENT D-31 registered N4697T was involved in an accident near Lebanon, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 July 2001 at 14:52

Classification

Accident

Location

Lebanon, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Boone County (6I4)

Coordinates

40.0509, -86.4705

Aircraft

Druine TURBULENT D-31

Registration

N4697T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lebanon → Owosso

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI01LA222

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot not maintaining aircraft control while maneuvering during initial climb. Factors to the accident were the improperly serviced propeller that resulted in a pitch setting that was insufficient for normal flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was on the first flight following the installation and adjustment of a new ground-adjustable propeller. The pilot reported that while on initial climb, "... at aprox. [approximately] 40-50 foot altitude, I gently lowered the nose to continue the climbout at 70 kts. [knots]. At about the same time the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of forward thrust, with the engine continuing to run. I tried to maintain aircraft control to attempted to glide the aircraft back to the runway. The aircraft struck the ground about 20-25 feet right of the runway, turning about 180 degrees counter-clockwise, after impact." The pilot reported that he believed the loss of forward thrust was due to the propeller pitch adjustment prior to the accident flight. The propeller was inspected and was found at a minimum pitch setting of approximately 3 degrees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.