Accident Summary
On April 3, 2014, about 1230 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-12 (N409FM) and a DeHavilland DHC-1 Chipmunk (N12BH) collided over the runway at Bayport Aerodrome (23N), Bayport, New York. The Chipmunk sustained substantial damage, while the RV-12 received minor damage. The private pilot of the RV-12 and the airline transport pilot of the Chipmunk were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans were filed for either flight. The RV-12 had departed Cherry Ridge Airport in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, while the Chipmunk was departing Bayport Aerodrome for Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip, New York.
According to the pilot of the RV-12, he made a radio call at the "mid bay" position announcing his intention to land at 23N. He also made subsequent calls while crossing the shoreline, when on 45-degree left base leg for runway 36, and on the turn onto final. During the approach, he did not see any traffic on the runway. When he began his flare, the forward half of a departing aircraft came into view. One of the RV-12's propeller blades struck the upper aft portion of the vertical stabilizer and rudder of the Chipmunk. The RV-12 landed without power, while the Chipmunk departed to the north and continued to ISP. A portion of the propeller blade tip from the RV-12 and a lead rudder balance weight from the Chipmunk were later found on the west half of the runway.
The pilot of the Chipmunk stated that after taxiing to the south end of runway 36, he performed an engine run-up and transmitted his intentions to depart on runway 36 on the traffic advisory frequency. He conducted a 360-degree turn to look for traffic before departing. At rotation, he thought something in the tail or back had broken or let go, or possibly a bird strike. He assessed the airplane as controllable and flyable and continued to ISP for landing on runway 33L.
Pilot Information
The pilot of the RV-12 held a Federal Aviation Administration private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. He reported approximately 740 total flight hours. The pilot of the Chipmunk held an FAA airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and multi-engine land, and a flight instructor certificate. He had approximately 36,000 total flight hours. His most recent FAA first-class medical certificate was issued on April 4, 2014.
Aircraft Information
The RV-12 was issued its special airworthiness certificate in 2010. Its most recent conditional inspection was completed on October 1, 2013. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated about 338 total hours of operation. The Chipmunk was manufactured in 1956. Its most recent annual inspection was completed on March 11, 2014. At the time, it had about 2,500 total hours of operation.
Meteorological Information
Recorded weather from ISP's automated system, located about 3 miles northwest of the accident site, indicated visual flight rules conditions. At 1156, the wind was 320 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet, temperature 14°C, dewpoint -4°C, and altimeter 30.09 inches of mercury.
Additional Information
Following the accident, the New York Department of Transportation added a comment to the Airport/Facility Directory: "PILOTS BE ADVISED: DUE TO PATTERN PROCEDURES, AIRCRAFT IN THE RUN-UP AREA OR STARTING TAKEOFF ROLL ON RWY 36, AND AIRCRAFT ON FINAL APPROACH TO RWY 36, MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER DUE TO TREES." A review of satellite imagery and aerial photos indicated that portions of the approach end of runway 36 would be blocked from view by trees when using the published traffic pattern entry. Aircraft entering the pattern for runway 36 would not be visible to aircraft on the ground holding short at the approach end.