Landing Gear Collapse During Crosswind Takeoff (N6466D)

What happened

During the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a significant 50-degree left crosswind. This wind condition caused the aircraft to veer off the paved surface and onto the adjacent grass. While traveling across the turf, the nose wheel struck a depression in the ground. The impact caused the landing gear to collapse, leading the airplane to slowly nosed over.

The investigation

Following the incident, an examination of the aircraft was conducted to determine the extent of the damage and the cause of the failure. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the event. The investigation confirmed that the gear collapse was a direct result of the nose wheel entering the depression after leaving the runway.

Findings

The primary factors contributing to this accident include the 50-degree left crosswind which made directional control difficult during takeoff and the presence of a depression in the grass adjacent to the runway. The combination of these elements led to the gear failure. The pilot maintained that the aircraft was mechanically sound before the incident occurred.