What happened
During the takeoff roll on runway 35, the pilot experienced moderate to heavy rain which restricted visibility. As the aircraft approached rotation speed, a tire blowout occurred, followed by an instance of hydroplaning. The pilot subsequently aborted the takeoff and taxied the aircraft back to the ramp.
The investigation
An inspection of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to the propeller, landing gear, cowling, and the left engine. Additionally, the pressure vessel was found to be breached. An examination of the airfield showed that between 15 and 20 runway lights were either damaged or destroyed. The pilot indicated that the aircraft had been aligned with the left-side runway edge lights rather than the centerline lights, noting that vision was partially obstructed by the heavy rain.
Findings
- Misalignment with the runway centerline due to obscured vision from heavy rain.