Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 1, 2012, about 1130 mountain daylight time, a TL Ultralight SRO Stingsport airplane, N898N, conducted a forced landing after two of the propeller blades separated inflight near Longmont, Colorado. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The sport pilot and the designated pilot examiner (DPE) on board were not injured. The aircraft was registered to STING4FUN LLC and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from Erie Municipal Airport (KEIK), Erie, Colorado at 1100.

The DPE stated that while the pilot was conducting a steep turn demonstration at 2,500 feet above the ground, the engine began vibrating violently. The pilot aborted the maneuver and retarded the throttle to idle when the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot made an emergency landing in a nearby field. After the landing, the pilot and DPE noticed that two of the three propeller blades had separated from the propeller hub. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and engine mount. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot, age 43, held a sport pilot certificate at the time of the accident. He received his private pilot certificate after the conclusion of the accident flight. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONThe airplane was a TL Ultralight SRO Stingsport, two-place, high wing, fixed gear, light sport airplane manufactured in 2006. An airworthiness certificate was issued for N889N on March 10, 2006. It was powered by a Bombardier Rotax engine and equipped with a 3 bladed WoodComp wooden propeller.

Visual inspections of the propeller and propeller hub and bolt torques were checked per the TL Ultralight SRO and WoodComp instructions. The inspections were completed on: August 1, 2009 at a total time of 158.4; August 3, 2009 at a total time of 361.2; August 12, 2010 at a total time of 680.9; and September 1, 2011 at a total time of 924.8.

According to WoodComp, the propeller inspections were required at 150 hour intervals. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONAn automated weather report at Erie, Colorado, 14 miles north of the accident site, was issued at 1134 and reported: wind from 020 degrees and 3 knots, 10 miles visibility, sky clear, temperature 29 degrees Celsius (C), dewpoint 3 degrees C, and pressure 30.12 inches of mercury. AIRPORT INFORMATIONThe airplane was a TL Ultralight SRO Stingsport, two-place, high wing, fixed gear, light sport airplane manufactured in 2006. An airworthiness certificate was issued for N889N on March 10, 2006. It was powered by a Bombardier Rotax engine and equipped with a 3 bladed WoodComp wooden propeller.

Visual inspections of the propeller and propeller hub and bolt torques were checked per the TL Ultralight SRO and WoodComp instructions. The inspections were completed on: August 1, 2009 at a total time of 158.4; August 3, 2009 at a