Cessna 421A accident near Homewood, Mississippi, July 25, 2000
On July 25, 2000 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Cessna 421A, registered N1477D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Homewood, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 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 inadequate installation of the right propeller by the mechanic for his failure to properly torque the eight nuts resulting in fatigue failure of the studs and separation of the right propeller during cruise flight. Findings in the investigation were 1) the mechanic who installed the right propeller used un-calibrated torque wrenches, and 2) the mechanic who installed the right propeller used an outdated Service Manual.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2000 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Homewood, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 421A · all 421As on the register
- Registration
- N1477D · registry record · serial 421A-0037
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise flight, a slight vibration was felt and the right propeller completely separated contacting the right horizontal stabilizer. The flight diverted and landed uneventfully. The right engine No. 3 cylinder connecting rod failed; evidence of exposure to elevated temperatures and higher stress fatigue crack propagation was noted. Extensive fretting noted on the faying surfaces of the right propeller gear and hub, and on both sides of the propeller bulkhead and fillet assembly. The holes in the propeller bulkhead assembly and propeller gear were elongated/eggshaped. Fatigue noted on all eight studs; wear noted on the shanks of seven studs; the eighth stud was not examined. Four of the recovered seven spacers were damaged shortening their length. Only two of the eight fractured studs were extended the specified minimum distance beyond the nut. No discrepancies with the threads in the hub holes of the left propeller, or to the threads in the hub holes of the right propeller that were checked. Overstress failure noted on the fractured propeller blade from the right propeller. The mechanic who installed the right propeller used un-calibrated torque wrenches and an outdated Service Manual. The airplane had accumulated approximately 50 hours since installation of the right propeller.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,137 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 231 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,100 as pilot in command; 10 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,909 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 2000; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DTS Destin FL at 6:30 pm
- Destination: TUL Tulsa OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 196°F (91°C), dew point 129°F (54°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from JAN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Other NTSB records under N1477D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 MIA00LA225.