Incident Overview
A pilot initiated a takeoff roll on Runway 35 under conditions of greater than 6 miles visibility but with restricted visibility due to moderate to heavy rain. As the aircraft neared rotation speed, the pilot felt a tire blow out followed by hydroplaning. The takeoff was aborted, and the pilot taxied back to the ramp.
Damage Assessment
Post-flight inspection of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left engine and cowling, propeller, and landing gear. Additionally, the pressure vessel was breached. Examination of the runway after the incident found that 15 to 20 runway lights were either damaged or destroyed.
Pilot Observations
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, he believed he had aligned the airplane with the left side runway edge lights instead of the centerline lights. He attributed this misalignment to his vision being partially obstructed by the moderate rain.