Partial power loss involving a Beech Aircraft Corp 58, VH-ION, Adelaide Aerodrome, South Australia, on 14 August 1997

Shortly after departure from runway 23 at Adelaide for a training flight, the pilot advised ATS that one engine was shutdown. The aircraft returned for an uneventful landing. Post flight examination found that the left propeller had suffered an in-flight separation of a counterweight and retaining bolts. Debris from the separating counterweight punctured the aircraft fuselage. A bolt head and spacer were retrieved from the nose baggage compartment area.

Metalurgical examination of the components was unable to determine the sequence of failure of the counterweights. Due to the inflight loss of failed parts, it is not possible to complete the investigation into the failure.