Titan T-51 Fatal Prop Hub Failure 21 July 2024

LINKS:
NTSB Preliminary Report

Theme: "Weightless" Aram Bedrosian

[blancolirio]

No, to be clear and as presented in the video. The prop hub failure was PRECEEDED by a gross PROP OVERSPEED.

[FINfinFINfinFINfin]

Hats of to the pilot for check flying the plane before he took the other pilot up. RIP.

[platapus]

Damn that sucks, met him a few times and really enjoyed talking to him about the Titans. RIP buddy

[Dennis-vhtz]

The mechanical failure made an emergency landing urgently necessary, but it was the lack of a good place for that landing which made this a fatal crash. The solo post-maintenance test flight saved the planned passenger from serious injury or death, which demonstrates that test piloting is both dangerous and necessary. RIP.

[av_oid]

Very sad loss for his family and the experimental aircraft community.

[theblackbear]

Thanks Juan, another excellent report. My sincere condolences to the pilot's friends and family.
I would observe, as an engine guy - that any time I see or hear an engine overspeed suddenly - especially in a condition where one would normally expect the load to be increasing,
my experience causes me to suspect that the load suddenly came off the engine.
It is difficult to overspeed a fully loaded engine.
Perhaps, a pitch control failure, unloading the engine? I will be waiting to hear what they end up determining the root cause of the overspeed was.

[ShipHighInTransit]

I met this guy last year and saw this plane at the Cleveland Interational Air Show, he was really nice and answered a bunch of questions about the plane, homebuilding, his different kits, and business. Really sad. RIP sir.

[timcisneros]

I had a 310P and had to rebuild the props. Learned way more than I wanted to know. The hubs keep the props from centrifugal forces exceeding 20 tons each if I remember right. When you have one fail it is catastrophic. It can rip the engine right out of the frame. Condolences to him, his family and friends.

[plane]

John was very kind to me when I was a line guy at the Geauga County Airport 7G8.. many years ago. This one was hard to see

[joeneu]

Not sure if it applies to this engine and gear box but I remember talking to someone about these LS automotive conversions. One of the major drawbacks was you couldn’t pull negative g because it would starve the oil pump for the propeller. If the hub has no oil pressure the propeller would drive full fine pitch thus increasing engine rpm. My guess is the propeller hub lost oil pressure somehow which drove the propeller to fine pitch which pushed the propeller rpm way above what it could handle and then the blades let loose and the engine went to its max rpm with no load on it.

[steve]

Nice coverage as usual Juan, thanks for what you do.

[Bob-job]

Prop failure is not just a problem with experimental aircraft. My father had a prop disintegrate on an IO-520 which ripped the engine from the airframe. Luckily he had not yet taken off but still got hurt running off the end of the airstrip (about a 30 % downgrade into a gully - cropdusting....)

[ruthmichigander]

Thank you Juan! So sad for this loss of life.

[greggyd]

That's awesome you posted one before you left for the airport! It was my absolute pleasure meeting you on the commute down South today. Have a great trip and I'll look forward to that new ceiling fan 😅.

[Ma]

I would guess the engine RPM surged because the hub failed and there was no longer force required to turn the now departed prop. Really a sad ending to a pillar of the experimental community.

[steveturner]

So sad. The EAA community HAS suffered a great loss. Condolences to his family. R.I.P.

[MrGermany]

The Diamond DA42 does very well with its Mercedes Benz Turbo Diesel Engines. Certificated and everything. Worked on them a lot.

[GlutenEruption]

I find it extra tragic when a good pilot who did everything right and went out of his way to observe safety and best practices ended up not making it due to simple bad luck and circumstance. Sad

[morkbov]

What a sad news. I've met with the gentlemen a few years ago during a shop tour I've undertaken in order to assess the fabrication of their kits aircraft. Such a nice person is lost. My condolence to hos family and friends. RIP John.

[brianmeister]

Thanks for creating an informative video about what led to the crash. It's a terrible loss to the flying community. RIP, John.