Heronimus Kevin A GLASAIR III N43KH

Summary

On 30 September 2011 at about 18:03 local time, a Heronimus Kevin A GLASAIR III registered N43KH was involved in an accident near Falls of Rough, Kentucky, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 September 2011 at 18:03

Classification

Accident

Location

Falls of Rough, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Rough River State Park Airport (2I3)

Coordinates

37.0069, -85.9028

Aircraft

Heronimus Kevin A GLASAIR III

Registration

N43KH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Falls of Rough → Falls of Rough

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11FA512

1 person died.

The failure of the propeller power speed reduction unit, which resulted in a loss of engine power at low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to witnesses, the airplane departed the airport and circled back to make a fly-by over the runway. As the airplane flew over the runway, a witness reported that the engine sounded like it “over revved.” Witnesses also stated that they saw what appeared to be a puff of smoke emitting from the nose of the airplane. The pilot made a left banking turn, and then entered a left downwind for the runway. The engine power seemed to surge as the airplane descended. Then the engine went silent and the airplane turned toward the airport but did not have enough altitude to reach the runway. The pilot appeared to level the wings, and the landing gear was lowered as the airplane descended into the trees, struck a building, and exploded. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it was equipped an automotive Chevrolet LS1 engine. The airplane’s propeller was attached to a propeller speed reduction unit (PSRU). The system was designed with an automatic clutch and was tuned to remain disengaged at idle and engage with an increase in power. An examination of the PSRU revealed that the propeller drive shaft fractured as a result of fatigue. This fracture separated the propeller drive gears from the clutch, which resulted in the loss of power to the propeller. Given the witness accounts of the loss of engine power, it is likely that the airplane lost airspeed and altitude due to this condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.