Amateur-built Q2 accident near Rutland, Iowa, July 4, 1992
On July 4, 1992 at about 1:15 pm local time, a amateur-built Q2, registered N84JS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rutland, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1992 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Rutland, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Q2
- Registration
- N84JS · registry record · serial 2329
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE PILOT NOTED AN ENGINE VIBRATION FOLLOWED BY AN INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE PROPELLER AND SPINNER. THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED IN A SOYBEAN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER IN SOFT TERRAIN. THE PROPELLER AND SPINNER WERE RECOVERED STILL ATTACHED TO THE FRONT PORTION OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT. EXAMINATION OF THE CRANKSHAFT SHOWED AN AREA OF WEAR AT THE KEYSLOT WHERE THE PROPELLER FLANGE IS FITTED OVER THE SHAFT. EXAMINATION OF THE INSIDE WALLS OF THE PROPELLER FLANGE SHOWED AN 'AREA OF CONCENTRATED FRETTING WHICH LEFT A DISTINCT WEAR MARK THAT MATCHES THE FRACTURE SURFACE OF THE FAILED CRANKSHAFT.' ACCORDING TO MAINTENANCE RECORDS THE CONVERTED AUTOMOTIVE ENGINE HAD BEEN IN SERVICE SINCE MAY 23, 1987 AND HAD ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY 387 HOURS IN SERVICE. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION ON THE AIRPLANE WAS ACCOMPLISHED ON MAY 21, 1992, APPROXIMATELY 3 FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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: 611 hours in all; 387 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 550 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 387 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 1992; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster 2100 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DOD Fort Dodge IA at 1:00 pm
- Destination: EST Estherville IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:16 pm from FOD, 14 miles away
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.