Accident Sequence
At approximately 1615 eastern standard time on February 25, 2012, a Piper PA-36-300 (registration N59661) was substantially damaged during a maintenance test flight at Jimmy Carter Regional Airport (ACJ), Americus, Georgia. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, the aircraft departed runway 28. During the initial climb, about 75 feet above ground level, the airplane abruptly pulled to the right. The pilot applied maximum power and left rudder to maintain control. During the subsequent landing on runway 5, the airplane veered immediately to the right, departed the side of the runway, crossed a taxiway and a ditch, and came to rest approximately 300 feet to the right of the runway.
Aircraft Examination
Photographs provided by the operator showed that a 66-inch midspan section of the fiberglass leading edge had separated along the gang channel. Approximately 18 inches of the section remained at the accident location but was separated from the wing; the remaining portion was not located.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and noted that several of the 92 screws required to secure the midspan section exhibited signs of uneven torque. Two screws located on the top inboard corner, along with several screws on the underside of the leading edge, could not be located.
Maintenance Records
According to the aircraft maintenance records, the most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on August 17, 2011, at a recorded Hobbs time of 4,899.5 hours. The last logbook entry was dated October 6, 2011, with a Hobbs time of 4,994.5 hours. The operator reported that aerial spray equipment had just been installed; however, no corresponding entry was documented in the maintenance records.