Amateur-built LONG-EZ N4JZ accident near Thomasville, Georgia

Probable cause

<p style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;line-height:108%;font-size:12pt;background-color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-family:'Roboto';color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:#ffffff;">The in-flight separation of o</span><span style="font-family:'Roboto';background-color:#ffffff;">ne of the wooden propeller blades for unknown reasons.</span></p>

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he was maneuvering around weather at 11,500 ft mean sea level (msl) when he made a rapid descent to 3,500 ft msl to remain clear of clouds. He reported that he did not exceed the airplane’s maneuvering speed during the descent, and that when the airplane reached 3,500 msl, it began to “violently shake,” followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot made a successful forced landing to a field; however, after he landed, he noticed about three-quarters of one of the wooden propeller blades was missing and two of the engine mounts were sheared from the firewall.

The pilot stated the wooden P-prop had been overhauled and had accrued about 50-60 hours since overhaul. The pilot provided photographs of the fractured propeller blade; however, the detail observed in the photographs was insufficient to determine the reason the blade failed. Additional photographs were requested; however, they were not provided by the pilot. Therefore, the reason for the blade failure could not be determined.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA24LA303 for the full record.