Cessna 310R accident near Westerly, Rhode Island, June 1, 1991
On June 1, 1991 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 310R, registered N3227A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westerly, Rhode Island (Westerly State airport). 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
IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE RIGHT PROPELLER WHICH RESULTED IN THREAD FAILURE IN THE PROPELLER HUB AND SEPARATION OF THE PROPELLER IN FLIGHT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE RIGHT PROPELLER STRIKING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR CAUSING ITS SEPARATION FROM THE AIRPLANE AS THE PROPELLER DEPARTED THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1991 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Westerly, Rhode Island · Westerly State
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 310R · all 310Rs on the register
- Registration
- N3227A · registry record · serial 310R 1881
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 310 WAS ON FINAL APPROACH WHEN THE PILOT FELT A BUFFET AND LOST POWER IN THE RIGHT ENGINE. HE MADE A MISSED APPROACH AND DIVERTED TO A VFR AIRPORT. HE LANDED WITH THE RIGHT PROPELLER AND RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR MISSING FROM THE AIRPLANE, WHCIH WERE NEVER RECOVERED. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE THREADS OF THE PROPELLER MOUNTING BOLTS CONTAINED THE THREADS FROM THE PROPELLER HUB. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF THE PROPELLER HUB THREADS HAVING BEEN OVER TORQUED AT SOME TIME IN THEIR LIFE. ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE PROPELLER HAD LAST BEEN INSTALLED 499 HOURS PRIOR TO PROPELLER SEPARATION. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN PLACED IN A PROGRESSIVE INSPECTION PROGRAM WITH 50 HOUR INTERVALS FOR A 200 HOUR CYCLE. THE LOG BOOKS INDICATE THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN 65 HOURS SINCE ITS LAST INSPECTION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 491 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 374 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 679 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 21, 1991; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-MB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HFD Hartford CT at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.