Incident
On February 8, 2009, at approximately 1115 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-30, registration N10JR, sustained substantial damage after impacting terrain shortly after takeoff from Lakeville Airport (NY15) in Lakeville, New York. The pilot, a certificated commercial pilot, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight originating at the time of the accident.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported to an FAA inspector on scene that he had taxied the aircraft to the end of runway 19, a 2,800-foot-long turf runway. Following the takeoff roll, the airplane climbed to approximately 30 feet above ground level, at which point the left engine began to run rough. The pilot attempted to land the airplane back on the runway; during the landing, the airplane contacted the runway, resulting in damage to both wings and collapse of the nose and left main landing gear.
In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot described a different sequence of events. He stated that while taxiing, he could feel the landing gear sinking into frost. He added power, causing the aircraft to jump into the air. Subsequently, the left engine lost power, restarted on its own, and then died again, after which the airplane impacted the turf runway. The pilot also noted that he was under pressure to get the airplane away from that airfield.
Examination
An FAA inspector examined the airplane and confirmed damage to the wings, nose gear, and left main landing gear from the ground impact. Examination of the airframe and flight control system revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.