TORRANCE, CA, USA
N350JP
HOMEBUILT JP-350-1
THE PILOT OF THE HOMEBUILT SERVICED THE PROPELLER HUB WITH 120 PSI PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. AFTER TAKEOFF HE LOST CONTROL OF THE PROPELLER AND THE ENGINE LOST THRUST. EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER ASSEMBLY REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE-IMPACT MALFUNCTION. THE PROPELLER BLADES HAD BEEN SHORTENED AND THE PROPELLER OVERSPEED OCCURRED BECASUE THE BLADES WERE NOT COUNTERWEIGHTED. HARTZELL STATED THE 120 PSI CHARGE IN THE HUB WAS INSUFFICIENT TO COUNTERACT THE AERODYNAMIC TWISTING MOMENTS AND PREVENT THE OVERSPEED.
THE AIRCRAFT COLLISION WITH THE GROUND AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE THRUST DUE TO PROPELLER OVERSPEED CONDITION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER SERVICING OF THE PROPELLER HUB THAT ALLOWED THE OVERSPEED TO OCCUR.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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