Introduction
On 12 August 2005, at approximately 15:01 local time, a Cessna P210N (registration N6593W) with a Supplementary Type Certificate (STC) and powered by one Allison 250-B17F/2 engine, departed from the private grass airfield at Brittas House, County Limerick, Ireland, for a flight to Lisbon, Portugal. On board were one pilot and three passengers. No injuries were reported.
History of the Flight
The aircraft lined up for takeoff on runway 15, as the wind was from 280 degrees at 7 knots, resulting in a tailwind component of 2 knots or less. The pilot applied power gradually due to the tendency for strong left yaw on the turbine Cessna 210. During the takeoff roll, the airspeed was slightly low at the midpoint, and all safe extra power was applied. After lifting off over the hedge at the end of the runway, the stall warning activated, and the pilot lowered the nose to gain airspeed. Shortly after lift-off, a "thump" was heard by all four occupants. The pilot suspected a bird strike and reported it to Shannon Air Traffic Control. The aircraft continued climbing to Flight Level 195.
Later in the climb, the pilot noticed that the left wing tip tank fuel indicator showed empty, while some fuel remained in the right tip tank. Concluding the gauge was faulty, the pilot decided to divert to Jersey Airport for inspection. After an uneventful landing at Jersey at 17:07, an inspection revealed that the entire left wing tip tank and a portion of the left wing and aileron assembly were missing. Remnants of pine tree caught in the metal indicated that the aircraft had struck a tree during departure.
Damage
The impact with a pine tree sliced through the left wing approximately 30 centimeters inboard from the rivet line joining the tip tank to the original wing. The tree cut through the leading edge and outer spar section, ripped the aileron in half, and ruptured the outer hinge bracket. The wing tip tank and the outer portion of the aileron separated from the aircraft. The impact angle was approximately +20 degrees. The damage to the wing was extensive and would likely require complete replacement of the wing. Approximately 6 feet was severed from the top of the 50-foot pine tree, which was located at the left-hand corner of the end of runway 15/33.
Airfield Information
Brittas House Airfield is a private, unlicensed grass airfield approximately 8 nautical miles southeast of Limerick City. Runway 15/33 measures approximately 650 meters in length and 18 meters in width, with a down slope of approximately -0.57 degrees. At the time, the surface was firm with short grass. A boundary hedge at the end of the runway, perpendicular to the centerline, is approximately 25 meters long on each side. A tree-lined hedge on the left side of the runway extends to the left-hand corner of the boundary hedge, where the 50-foot pine tree was located.