Synopsis
On February 3, 2010, at 1348 central standard time, a Cessna 172P, N97075, operated by the Civil Air Patrol under 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a snow bank during a takeoff attempt at McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport (MKL) in Jackson, Tennessee. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the instructional flight. The flight had originated at Savannah-Hardin County Airport (SNH), Savannah, Tennessee, at 1245.
Accident Details
According to the student pilot, she had previously landed on runway 2 at MKL, taxied back, and performed a takeoff for closed traffic. After landing again on runway 2, with winds from 320 degrees at 3 knots, she initiated the accident takeoff. Applying full power, the airplane veered to the left. Despite adding more right rudder to correct the drift, she felt a jerk, and the airplane continued turning left. It subsequently impacted a snow bank on the left side of the runway. The impact collapsed the nose landing gear and caused the propeller to contact the runway surface.
Aircraft Examination
An examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector confirmed that the airplane struck a snow bank off the left side of the runway, resulting in collapse of the nose landing gear and damage to the firewall. Further inspection of the nose gear revealed that the right "bearing-rod end" had broken off the "arm assembly-nose gear steering rod." These components were sent to the NTSB’s Materials Laboratory for detailed analysis.
Laboratory examination of the bearing-rod end and arm assembly-nose gear steering rod using magnified optical inspections showed deformation and fracture surface features consistent with bending overstress separations in both parts. No indications of preexisting conditions, such as fatigue or corrosion, were found.