Incident Overview
A commercial pilot conducting a VFR positioning flight reported that during the takeoff roll, the airplane rapidly and prematurely became airborne and began to yaw to the right. The aircraft then descended rapidly while continuing to yaw. It bounced on the runway and became airborne again. The pilot climbed to approximately 1,200 feet, where damage to the top of the left wing was observed.
Pilot Actions
Despite the observed damage, the pilot elected to continue to the destination airport, where maintenance and other services were available. However, about 10 miles from the departure airport, the left main landing gear partially separated from the wing, remaining attached only by the hydraulic brake line. The pilot then returned to the departure airport and executed a landing.
Weather Conditions
The pilot reported that during the takeoff, winds were variable from 070 degrees to 130 degrees at 15–20 knots, with gusts from 25–30 knots.
Mechanical and Damage Assessment
According to the pilot, there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. An FAA airworthiness inspector who examined the airplane determined that during the bounced takeoff, the left main landing gear attachments were sheared from the wing spar. Additionally, during the subsequent emergency landing, the outboard left wing section and aileron were damaged.