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Lucky escape for microlight crew
A pilot and his passenger escaped unhurt after the propellor flew off their microlight at 2,500 feet.
The 66-year-old airman made an emergency touch-down in a field in the Trough of Bowland near Clitheroe when the drama unfolded in April last year.
At around 3pm on April 6 the two seater Kolb Twinstar microlight – reg G CDFA – owned by Steven Soar of Nightingale Way, Catterall, Preston and William Arthur Douthwaite, of Hullett Drive, Hebden Bridge, was on a flight from Rufforth to Rossall Field, at Cockerham at the time.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch report published into the incident blamed metal fatigue for the loss of the propeller which was recovered by a local farmer 11 days after the incident.
It said : "The aircraft was in the cruise when the propeller detached.
"The pilot made a successful forced landing without further damage. Examination showed that the bolts securing the crankshaft extension fitting to the crankshaft had fractured in long-term high-cycle fatigue.
"Whilst flying straight and level on track at 2,500 ft, the occupants noticed a rattling sound, but without any vibration.
"About two minutes later there was a new 'mechanical' noise, followed a few seconds later by the abrupt stoppage of the engine.
The pilot was convinced that the engine had seized, so he did not attempt a restart and instead concentrated on finding a field for a forced landing.
"This was successful and there was no further damage to the aircraft. On vacating the aircraft, the pilot and passenger were surprised to find that the two-bladed wooden propeller was missing, Having departed without causing airframe damage.
"The aircraft was collected from the field by fellow flying club members using a trailer and the propeller was found 11 days later by a local farmer and despatched to the AAIB for further examination."
The incident has resulted in a recommendation that a new type of bolt is used to attach propellers to this type of aircraft.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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