NTSB Factual Report

On August 18, 2017, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Cessna A185F airplane, N92DC, sustained substantial damage from a propeller blade separation at the Aniak Airport, Aniak, Alaska. The commercial pilot and three passengers sustained no injury. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules business flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Aniak Airport, about 1625.

The pilot reported the purpose of the flight was to depart from Aniak and take the three passengers on a remote guided hunt south of Aniak. While the airplane was taxiing for takeoff at about 15 mph and about 2700 rpm, a blade from the metal 2 blade McCauley propeller separated about midspan. After the separation, the pilot was able to maintain control of the airplane and shutdown the airplane without further incident. No injuries to personnel on the ground occurred after the blade separation.

A postflight inspection by the pilot revealed that the engine mount system sustained substantial damage from excessive vibrations caused by the propeller blade separation.

The propeller, including the separated blade, were recovered and are pending transportation to the National Transportation Safety Board Materials Laboratory in Washington, District of Columbia for examination.