Accident Details
On June 28, 2013, at approximately 0950 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N (registration N75542) sustained substantial damage after impacting terrain following an aborted takeoff from Trout Lake Airport (66WA) in Trout Lake, Washington. The certified private pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned local flight, which was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. No flight plan was filed.
Pilot's Account
In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot reported that he aligned the aircraft on the 1,800-foot-long grass airstrip, applied full power with brakes held, set 10 degrees of flaps, observed about 2,600 engine revolutions per minute, and released the brakes. He held the control wheel fully aft per soft-field takeoff procedure. Approximately halfway down the runway, the airspeed indicator had only moved just above the 40-knot mark. About 60 percent of the way, the pilot realized he was committed to take off as insufficient runway remained to stop. At about 45 knots, he rotated, but the airplane lifted only about 4 feet. The pilot believed the elevator struck a barbed-wire fence, and the right wing impacted two 10-foot-high trees. The airplane then flew over a drainage ditch before the main landing gear collided with and severed a sprinkler pipe. The airplane skidded on all three wheels and came to rest upright about 30 feet beyond the pipe. The pilot noted calm wind and that the airplane was within weight and balance limits. He questioned whether a mechanical engine issue prevented adequate airspeed. The pilot added that he had practiced short-field takeoffs and landings at another airport the previous day but did not practice soft-field techniques.
Aircraft Examination
A postaccident examination of the engine, supervised by an FAA airworthiness inspector and performed by a certified FAA airframe and powerplant mechanic, revealed no abnormalities. The engine compartment was clean with no oil or fuel stains. Oil level was 7 quarts and clean. Spark plugs were clean and properly gapped. Cylinder compression tests (cold) yielded: No. 1 – 79/80, No. 2 – 77/80, No. 3 – 78/80, No. 4 – 80/80. Throttle and mixture controls operated freely. The fuel valve rotated properly. The gascolator screen was clear, with about 1 cup of fuel showing no contaminants. The airbox was clean. The carburetor (AVSTAR MA 4-5, serial AV95059) was inspected; accelerator pump functioned, bowl clean, floats intact, springs working, jets clean, and about 1 cup of fuel was captured without contaminants. Fuel color was blue. No defects were found in either magneto. The engine crankshaft rotated freely, though front-to-back play indicated possible thrust bearing damage. The FAA inspector concluded the engine appeared well-maintained and in good condition, with no anomalies suggesting it would not have developed full power at the time of the accident.