The airplane experienced a failure of the crankshaft and separation of the propeller and propeller flange shortly after takeoff at about 1258 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was not damaged and the Commercial pilot was not injured. The pilot stated that he was ferrying the airplane; another pilot had performed a precautionary landing the day before after experiencing a rough-running engine. The pilot performed a preflight inspection and several engine run-ups; no discrepancies were noted. At 500 feet during the initial climb, engine rpm decreased from 2390 to 2200. The pilot then heard a loud noise, noted vibration of the engine and engine cowling, and performed an uneventful forced landing on a taxiway. Preliminary examination revealed the crankshaft fractured inside the crankcase. The separated propeller with section of propeller flange was found on a nearby runway.
May 23, 2006, St. Augustine, Fla. / Cessna 172S
The airplane experienced a failure of the crankshaft and separation of the propeller and propeller flange shortly after takeoff at about 1258 Eastern time. Visual conditions prevailed. The airplane was not damaged and the Commercial pilot was not injured. The pilot stated that he was ferrying the airplane; another pilot had performed a precautionary landing the day before after experiencing a rough-running engine. The pilot performed a preflight inspection and several engine run-ups; no discrepancies were noted. At 500 feet during the initial climb, engine rpm decreased from 2390 to 2200. The pilot then heard a loud noise, noted vibration of the engine and engine cowling, and performed an un...
Key Takeaways:
- An airplane experienced a crankshaft failure and propeller separation shortly after takeoff, leading to engine vibration and a loud noise.
- The pilot performed an uneventful forced landing on a taxiway, resulting in no damage to the aircraft and no injuries.
- The incident occurred after a previous precautionary landing for a rough-running engine, with a preliminary examination confirming an internal crankshaft fracture.
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