Republic RC-3 accident near Julian, California, February 2, 2007
On February 2, 2007 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Republic RC-3, registered N6248K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Julian, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the propeller to crankshaft attachment bolts due to fatigue. A contributing factor was the improper installation of the propeller assembly by maintenance personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 2007 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Julian, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Republic RC-3 · all RC-3s on the register
- Registration
- N6248K · no longer on the register · serial 455
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise flight, the propeller assembly departed from the crankshaft flange and fell from the airplane. The pilot executed a forced landing to an open field. The recently overhauled propeller assembly had been installed on the engine for approximately 8 hours prior to the separation. Examination of the airframe revealed the six propeller to crankshaft attachment bolts were fractured, and all failed as a result of fatigue cracking. No chemical composition or other material deficiencies were found on the bolts. Bolt fatigue is most commonly the result of insufficient preload from under torquing the fastener, or improper installation, or from the loss of preload during service. The equal amounts of fatigue on all six bolts suggested that all bolts were equally affected.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 4,800 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 210 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2007; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-G2D6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SEE El Cajon CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: Blythe CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 pm from SEE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 LAX07LA078.