Incident Details
A pilot reported that during a crosswind takeoff, the airplane was struck by windshear. After lifting off at 70 miles per hour (mph) near midfield, the stall warning sounded, the airplane descended, and it drifted to the left of the runway centerline. The pilot attempted to correct with a right bank, causing the airplane to settle onto the runway and then lift off again. At that time, the pilot did not perceive any damage.
The pilot had performed normal airplane checks after start-up, with the exception of a run-up. After another airplane departed, the pilot taxied to the end of the runway and performed a run-up, configuring the airplane for a high-altitude maximum performance takeoff per the pilot operating handbook (POH). He leaned the engine for maximum revolutions per minute (rpm). As he began the takeoff, rpm and acceleration speed were as expected.
Weather and Airport Information
The pilot checked weather through the Aviation Digital Data Service (ADDS) and verified it with the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) at the airport. The ASOS reported winds from 180 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot stated that the windsock indicated an almost direct crosswind. He noted that runway 18/36 was closed, with a parallel taxiway marked and designated for takeoffs and landings. The taxiway length was 5,000 feet long by 60 feet wide, while the closed runway was 8,544 feet long by 150 feet wide. The pilot chose the preferred runway/taxiway (runway 36) due to terrain conditions: runway 36 has descending terrain, while runway 18 has ascending terrain. The density altitude was calculated at 7,965 feet.
Post-Flight Inspection
After arriving at the destination airport, while tying down the airplane, the pilot noted that the right stabilator top skin was buckled, as well as the lower skin and bottom of the tip was scraped. He believed that the damage occurred when the airplane settled back onto the runway at the departure airport. The pilot stated that there were no flight control anomalies during the flight back to the home airport.
Pilot's Statements
In the Recommendation section of the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report, the pilot stated that he should have delayed the climb-out until a higher airspeed was attained (should have accelerated more while in ground effect). He also indicated that he should have reconsidered his decision to take off based on the disparity between the windsock and ASOS information.