Piper PA-28-140 accident near Royal Kunia, Hawaii, March 27, 2025
On March 27, 2025 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1968 Piper PA-28-140, registered N261FC, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Royal Kunia, Hawaii. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improper alteration of the crankshaft propeller flange at an unknown time, which resulted in an in-flight separation of the propeller assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2025 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Royal Kunia, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140, built 1968 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N261FC · registry record · serial 28-24697
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instructional flight, the flight instructor detected a vibration; shortly thereafter he heard a loud bang, the engine lost total power, and the nose dropped. He performed a forced landing to a heavily vegetated field. After landing, the flight instructor noticed that the propeller was missing. It was later found in a nearby residence; no one was injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. Examination of the separated propeller revealed that the engine crankshaft had fractured and separated just aft of the crankshaft propeller flange (CPF). This flange is an integral part of the crankshaft and is where the propeller attaches to the engine; however, the CPF was found attached to the separated propeller and not the crankshaft where it belonged. The CPF was removed from the propeller and examined by an NTSB metallurgist to determine why the crankshaft had fractured and separated. The examination revealed that the CPF had been improperly modified by the drilling and installation of additional bolts. Investigators were unable to determine the purpose for the modification, when it was made, or by whom. Available maintenance records did not include any entries noting that the propeller assembly had been removed or altered since initial installation. Additionally, there are no Lycoming maintenance instructions, repair instructions, or service bulletins that permit hole drilling and filling of the CPF.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Part(s) separation from AC during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Propeller system › Propeller assembly › Failure
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,707.1 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 140.3 in the last 90 days; 33.4 in the last 30 days; 1,569.8 as pilot in command; 1,322.9 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 9, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,238.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 5, 2025; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-62A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HNL Honolulu HI at 9:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from PHNL, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PHNL 272153Z 16010KT 10SM FEW025 FEW035 28/20 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP181 T02780200 VISNO RWY04R $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC25LA028.