What happened
The pilot made three separate attempts to take off from a muddy airstrip, all of which failed. To address the weight issues, the pilot offloaded one passenger and some baggage before attempting a fourth takeoff. On this attempt, the aircraft became airborne but settled back onto a snow-covered frozen river. As the snow slowed the aircraft, the pilot reduced power while attempting a small right turn to avoid trees. During this maneuver, the left main gear collapsed.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the landing gear following the impact with the snowy surface. The collapse occurred after the aircraft had settled onto the river and was slowing down due to snow resistance.
Findings
Contributing factors included the initial muddy airstrip conditions which prevented successful takeoffs, leading to weight reduction measures. The subsequent landing on a snow-covered frozen river created high drag, requiring power reduction. The pilot's attempt to execute a turn under these constrained conditions resulted in structural failure of the landing gear.
Safety message
Operators should carefully evaluate weight and balance requirements when operating from soft or muddy surfaces. If takeoff performance is marginal, offloading weight may be necessary. Additionally, pilots must consider the risks of settling onto uneven or high-drag surfaces like snow-covered rivers during aborted takeoffs.