Norman QUAD CITY CHALLENGER N345MN

Summary

On 13 March 2014 at about 02:15 local time, a Norman QUAD CITY CHALLENGER registered N345MN was involved in an accident near Monroe, Washington, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 March 2014 at 02:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Monroe, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Firstair Field (W16)

Coordinates

47.8711, -121.9950

Aircraft

Norman QUAD CITY CHALLENGER

Registration

N345MN

Category

Airplane

Year built

2000

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Monroe → Monroe

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14CA136

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate construction of the propeller bracket, which resulted in its failure during the initial climb and the propeller subsequently departing the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot, who was also the builder of the experimental pusher-configured airplane, stated that he made a normal departure from his base airport. As the airplane reached about 250 feet above ground level (agl) he transitioned from the best-angle of climb configuration to the best-rate of climb configuration. The airplane emitted a loud "bang" behind the pilot and the engine subsequently experienced a total loss of power. He established a shallow turn back toward the airport and landed in a field just south and adjacent to the runway. The airplane touched down in soft, wet grass and the right main landing gear collapsed. The fuselage was substantially damaged. After egressing the airplane, the pilot noted that the propeller had separated from the airplane. Upon closer examination, he discovered that the metal bracket he had constructed to support the propeller as part of the speed reduction system had fractured. He estimated that the bracket had amassed about 10 hours of flight time on it.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.