Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Anchorage, Alaska
http://registry.faa.gov/N56681
NTSB Identification: GAA17CA101
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Thursday, December 15, 2016 in Willow, AK
Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/07/2017
Aircraft: MAULE MX 7, registration: N56681
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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff from a remote airstrip, the airplane impacted a snowdrift and was “launched” into the air. Subsequently, he heard something break. He added that the airplane appeared to be fine with no indications of a problem other than the left tire “looked a little off.” The pilot returned to his original departure airport without further incident.
During a postaccident examination, his mechanic discovered that the tubing in the bottom of the fuselage where the oleo strut attached to the main landing gear was broken.
The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
As a safety recommendation, the pilot added that walking the runway before takeoff might have revealed the snowdrift.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s failure to ensure that the runway was clear of any obstacles before departure, which resulted in the airplane impacting a snowdrift.
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during takeoff from a remote airstrip, the airplane impacted a snowdrift and was "launched" into the air. Subsequently, he heard something break. He added that the airplane appeared to be fine with no indications of a problem other than the left tire "looked a little off". The pilot returned to his original departure airport without further incident.
During a post-accident examination, his mechanic discovered that the tubing in the bottom of the fuselage where the olio strut attached to the main landing gear was broken.
The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
As a safety recommendation, the pilot added that walking the runway prior to takeoff might have revealed the snowdrift.
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