Bellanca 7ECA, Wild River Flying Club Inc., N50437: Accident occurred August 14, 2016 in Lino Lakes, Anoka County, Minnesota

NTSB Identification: CEN16LA324
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, August 14, 2016 in Lino Lakes, MN
Probable Cause Approval Date: 01/18/2017
Aircraft: BELLANCA 7ECA, registration: N50437
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The private pilot and flight instructor were performing a recurrent training flight in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. Both pilots reported that the takeoff roll and acceleration on the 1,900-ft grass runway seemed normal. As the airplane approached the predetermined decision point, they decided to continue the takeoff. The airplane became airborne near the end of the runway, and the wheels contacted vegetation past the departure end. The airplane slowed, settled into a marshy area, and came to rest inverted. 

Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Review of the airplane's performance data indicated that, under the conditions present at the time of the accident, the airplane’s ground run would be about 546 ft, and the distance to clear a 50-ft obstacle would be about 1,192 ft. However, review of carburetor icing probability charts indicated the potential for moderate icing at cruise power, and serious icing at descent power. The flight instructor reported that, during the takeoff roll, the carburetor heat was off. Thus, it is likely that carburetor ice accumulated during taxi and run-up before the takeoff, which resulted in a loss of engine power and reduced takeoff performance.  

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
A partial loss of engine power due to the formation of carburetor ice, which resulted in reduced climb capability and impact with vegetation and terrain during takeoff.

WILD RIVER FLYING CLUB INC: http://registry.faa.gov/N50437

FAA Flight Standards District Office: FAA Minneapolis FSDO-15

NTSB Identification: CEN16LA324
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, August 14, 2016 in Lino Lakes, MN
Aircraft: BELLANCA 7ECA, registration: N50437
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On August 14, 2016, about 1420 central daylight time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N50437, collided with swampy terrain and nosed over during takeoff at Surfside Airport (MN24), Lino Lakes, Minnesota. The two pilots aboard were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Wild River Flying Club, Saint Croix Falls, Wisconsin, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident, and was destined for Osceola (KOEO), Wisconsin.

According to the pilots, the takeoff roll seemed normal. The airplane's wheels brushed the bushes at the departure end of the runway. Unable to climb, the airplane landed in a marshy area off the end of the runway and nosed over.