Classic WACO YMF-5 N553T

Summary

On 16 July 1997 at about 21:50 local time, a Classic WACO YMF-5 registered N553T was involved in an accident near Pahoa, Hawaii, United States. 3 people were 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 1997 at 21:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Pahoa, Hawaii, United States

Nearest airport

Hilo International (ITO)

Coordinates

19.4895, -154.9400

Aircraft

Classic WACO YMF-5

Registration

N553T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hilo → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97LA245

1 person had minor injuries.

Loss of the propeller retaining nut and associated hardware for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

In cruise during a for-hire sightseeing flight over a volcanic crater the aircraft sustained an in-flight separation of the propeller. The pilot made a forced landing in a lava field. The pilot reported that there was no unusual vibration or other warning prior to the propeller separating from the aircraft. The pilot further reported that he personally inspected the propeller, retaining nut, and clevis pin the morning of the accident. Two prior flights were successfully completed and the accident occurred on the third flight of the day. During the aircraft recovery efforts, the propeller was found over a mile from the aircraft point of rest. Propeller hub/attachment components consisting of the forward cone, a snap ring, the hub retaining nut, and the clevis pin were not located. An examination of the aircraft was conducted by FAA Airworthiness inspectors who reported that nothing unusual was noted to the crankshaft splines, threaded front end (where the retaining nut is installed), or the grooves for the clevis pin. The examining inspectors stated that, 'apart from impact damage there was no other evident damage to propeller shaft that would suggest premature failure of propeller shaft that would cause departure of propeller from aircraft.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.