Amateur-built D1/LFD-13 accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, May 27, 1990
On May 27, 1990 at about 7:23 pm local time, a amateur-built D1/LFD-13, registered N1113D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WHO PERFORMED AN IMPROPER MODIFICATION OF THE PROPELLER BLADE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1990 · about 7:23 pm local time
- Place
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built D1/LFD-13
- Registration
- N1113D · no longer on the register · serial LFD-13
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS AT 2000 FEET WHEN A PROPELLER BLADE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE AFTER THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN USING THE MAGNETO SWITCH. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER REVEALED THAT THE BLADES HAD BEEN SHORTENED FROM THE TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET MINIMUM OF 71.5 IN TO 65 IN. ADDITIONALLY THE PROPELLER WAS NOT RATED FOR THE 125 HP ENGINE. ITS MAXIMUM RATED HP WAS 115. THE MODIFICATION WAS DONE BY UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 1990; 10 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCL Tuscaloosa at 9:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:27 pm from TCL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.