What happened
A pilot was departing from a climbing base camp situated at an elevation of 7,200 feet on a glacial ice field. The departure site consisted of a 1,500-foot long snow-covered area that sloped downward toward the southeast. To ensure proper terrain clearance, the standard takeoff direction was toward the southeast.
Prior to beginning the takeoff run, the pilot observed a tailwind of approximately 3 to 5 knots. As the wheel-ski equipped airplane reached the end of the takeoff site, it became airborne but subsequently settled back onto the glacier. The aircraft bounced three times before the right main landing gear collapsed. This caused the airplane to nose over and come to rest in an inverted position.
The incident resulted in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. After exiting the aircraft, the pilot discovered that the tailwind had increased to approximately 10 knots. The pilot reported that there were no anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating on a downward-sloping, snow-covered glacial surface.
- A tailwind was present during the takeoff roll and increased in intensity during the event.