A series of detailed study was performed to identify the sources of the propeller blade failure and resolve the problem systematically, by use of the theoretical tools and by the direct measurement and observation in the full-scale sea trials. The selection of inexperienced propulsion control system with a reversible gear system is shown to cause the serious damage to the propeller blades in crash astern maneuver, when the rotational direction of the propeller is changed rapidly. Quasi-steady analysis for propeller blade strength using FEM code in bollard backing condition indicates that the safety factor should be order of 18∼20 to avoid the structural failure for the selected propeller geometry and reduction gear system.