Plane Crash List

Gyroflug SC01B160 N3412L

10 June 1990 · Mineral Wells, Texas, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 10 June 1990 at about 13:15 local time, a Gyroflug SC01B160 registered N3412L was involved in an accident near Mineral Wells, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 13:15
Classification
Accident
Location
Mineral Wells, Texas, United States
Nearest airport
Municipal (MWL)
Coordinates
32.8209, -98.0709
Aircraft
Gyroflug SC01B160
Registration
N3412L
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Other Work Use
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
FTW90DPA05

People

1 person died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 1 0 0 0

Probable cause

TOTAL PROPELLER BLADE RETENTION FAILURE, THE RESULTANT SEPARATION OF ONE PROPELLER BLADE, AND THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE PROPELLER BY UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN MODIFIED TO BE FLOWN EITHER REMOTELY OR BY THE PILOT. TAKEOFF AND INITIAL CLIMB WERE PERFORMED BY REMOTE CONTROL AND CONTROL WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE PILOT TO POSITION FOR A REMOTE CONTROL LANDING. ANGLE OF BANK INCREASED PAST 90 DEGREES IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AT ABOUT 425 FEET AGL; THE PILOT TRANSMITTED THAT HE WAS 'GOING DOWN' SHORTLY BEFORE IMPACT. ONE OF THE THREE WOODEN PROPELLER BLADES SEPARATED FROM THE HUB AND WAS FOUND 1/4 MILE FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE BLADE WAS ATTACHED TO THE HUB PRIMARILY BY 5 LAG SCREWS. THREADS IN THE WOOD BUTT OF THE SEPARATED BLADE WERE STRIPPED. THE 5 SCREWS REMAINED IN PLACE. LAG SCREWS IN THE REMAINING 2 BLADES WERE FOUND UNDERTORQUED. SEVERAL DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED REGARDING SPECIFICATIONS FOR PROPELLER BLADE ROOT AND SIZE, TOLERANCES, AND LAG SCREWS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
19 Mar 1990 Bell 206B
N5016F
Pearland, Texas, United States
no coordinates
Houston Helicopter, Inc Serious injuries -
17 Mar 1990 Cessna 172G
N4696L
Rio Hondo, Texas, United States - No injuries -
28 Mar 1990 Beechcraft 100
N696JB
Uvalde, Texas, United States - Serious injuries -
3 Apr 1990 Hughes H500C
N9128F
Houston, Texas, United States Mark R. Lancaster No injuries -
15 Apr 1990 Hughes 369HS
N9138F
Junction, Texas, United States Neveri, Inc. No injuries -
16 Apr 1990 Cessna 152
N93070
Albany, Texas, United States - No injuries -

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