Daily Mail Reporter
”A lucky pilot told yesterday how he cheated death after a freak accident saw his propeller fall off his plane mid-flight – at 2,300ft.
Neil Rankin, 51, performed an incredible emergency landing in his tiny Tipsy Nipper when the bolts attaching his propeller mysteriously snapped over an Essex reservoir.
Mr Rankin heard a ‘thump and a wobble’ as the entire propeller came off and then discovered his radio was broken but somehow kept his cool to dodge power lines and land the plane without sustaining a scratch.”
Sounds like a textbook forced landing, no doubt with a bit of luck involved. Well done to Neil Rankin.
What is it with Essex and plummeting Tipsy Nippers ? It wasn’t that long ago that G-ONCS went down in the marshes after an incredible 26 turn spin, and just recovered at the last possible moment- he was called Neil as well !
By: Propstrike - 17th March 2011 at 21:31
Perhaps he had a good book. 😎
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th March 2011 at 13:16
It is remarkable that he was able to pull it off without a radio.:diablo:
By: Merlin3945 - 15th March 2011 at 10:29
The main thing is the guy is ok and uninjured. I am sure the CAA will do all they need to do to praise or chastise the guy.
By: Sky High - 10th March 2011 at 14:25
Mmmm – I thought that was a rather dogmatic statement as well!
By: Bmused55 - 10th March 2011 at 13:47
Can you say that for absolute certain?
Have you see the bolts in question?
Have you seen the aircraft in question?
What is the metalurgical analysis results of these failed bolts?
By: xabi - 10th March 2011 at 11:59
Securely fastened bolts wouldn’t have ALL come undone during one single flight; they would have become loose over a series of flights. A proper pre-flight check would have picked it up.
By: TonyT - 1st March 2011 at 23:05
cool…. wonder how far the prop went not having to drag that along 😉
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March 1, 2011 at 6:49 pm