Thursday, March 31, 2016

Beech C23, N2397E, Maine Instrument Flight: Accident occurred March 30, 2016 in Frenchville, Aroostook County, Maine

Maine Instrument Flight: http://registry.faa.gov/N2397E

FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Portland FSDO-65

NTSB Identification: GAA16CA191

14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, March 30, 2016 in Frenchville, ME
Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/01/2016
Aircraft: BEECH C23, registration: N2397E
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot reported that he landed the airplane on the runway with visible ice and snow, and noted no issues with the braking and steering capabilities of the airplane. He reported that during the subsequent takeoff roll with full power applied, the airplane started sliding to the left. He attempted to control the sliding with right rudder. During the acceleration, he reported the left main landing gear got trapped in area with ice and the airplane departed the runway to the left and impacted a snowbank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to an engine mount and to the fuselage. 

The pilot verified that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

The Federal Aviation Administration has published the Aeronautical Information Manual (2014). This manual provides the definition of a contaminated runway and states in part:

A runway is considered contaminated whenever standing water, ice, snow, slush, frost in any form, heavy rubber, or other substances are present.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll on a runway contaminated with ice and snow, which resulted in a runway excursion and an impact with a snowbank.

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