Incident Overview
An aircraft suffered a collapsed left main landing gear after colliding with a sandbar during an aborted takeoff. The pilot stated that the takeoff was attempted from a short airstrip located at an elevation of 3000 ft MSL. During rotation, the aircraft encountered a tailwind, causing it to settle back onto the ground. It subsequently struck a sandbar, resulting in the collapse of the left main landing gear.
Aircraft Loading
According to the pilot, the aircraft was carrying two passengers, a large dog estimated at 130 lbs, baggage, and 50 gallons of fuel. The pilot indicated that the aircraft was at or below its maximum gross weight at the time of the incident.
Runway Description
The airstrip used for takeoff is 1000 ft in length. The pilot reported that the runway is surrounded by tall trees and features a vertical drop at its end.
Pilot Statement
The pilot attributed the event to the tailwind encountered at rotation, which prevented the aircraft from climbing and led to the collision with the sandbar. No further details were provided regarding the aircraft type, registration, operator, or location.
Damage
The left main landing gear collapsed as a result of the collision with the sandbar. The extent of any other damage was not specified.