Accident Details
On January 19, 2008, at approximately 1720 mountain standard time, a Luscombe 8E, registration N71730, nosed over while landing at Brigham City Airport in Brigham City, Utah. The airplane's left wing struck the snow-covered runway surface, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. The private pilot, who owned and operated the airplane under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which had originated from the airport about 1630.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that during takeoff in his ski-equipped airplane, just as he began to ascend at 65 miles per hour, he heard a noise coming from the side of the airplane. He observed that the tip of a ski was dislodged from its normal position and was upside down. After evaluating the situation, the pilot decided to land on the same ski runway from which he had departed. Following touchdown, as the airplane decelerated, directional control was lost; the airplane swerved and nosed over. The pilot examined the airplane and noted that the ski attachment bungee cables were intact. However, it appeared that the front cable on one ski was too long. The pilot reported having flown the airplane many times with skis and had never experienced a problem. On the accident flight, the age of the bungee cord was considered questionable. This was the pilot's first flight with skis in 10 years.
Aircraft Examination
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator examined the airplane several days after the mishap. The coordinator reported that portions of the ski-equipped airplane's structure were deformed, and the outboard span of the left wing's leading edge was crushed aft. One of the ski attachments to the main gear strut was broken, and the ski assembly had separated from the strut. The ski assembly shock cords on the skis, which hold the skis in position on the gear struts, were found in poor condition, aged, and weak.