Warning, Loss of Prop
July 1981
Dick recently had an experience with his Long-EZ that would raise the hair of the most experienced pilot. He lost the entire prop and spinner while cruising at 10,000 ft over a solid cloud deck. After watching the prop cascade away he received radar vectors from center to allow a successful approach to an airport, under weather conditions of 1/4 mile visibility in fog.
Investigation revealed that the all-important bolt tension (required to transmit torque through faceplate friction) had been lost when the prop dried out in desert conditions after exposure to the humid-wet Caribbean climate at his world-record arrival location. Note the added caution in the plans—change section of the newsletter. Also, do not, do not exceed the recommended interval on prop bolt torque check. (Owners Manual, Appendix III).