Accident Sequence
On August 21, 2017, at about 1430 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N73929, sustained substantial damage during a takeoff from Guntersville Municipal Airport (8A1), Guntersville, Alabama. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to a private corporation and operated by Henderson Aviation.
The pilot stated that he departed Tom B. David Airport (CZL), Calhoun, Georgia, earlier that day and flew direct to 8A1, intending to perform a touch-and-go landing and return to CZL. He made a normal landing on runway 07, but the airplane began to shake when the nose wheel touched down. The shaking subsided as the airplane slowed. After raising the flaps and turning off carburetor heat, the pilot applied full throttle for takeoff. As the airplane accelerated, it veered sharply to the left and departed the runway. Despite applying full right rudder, the pilot could not stop the left turn, and the airplane traveled down a slope into brush.
The pilot called the operator, who contacted the airport for assistance in towing the airplane back onto the runway. A mechanic inspected the airplane and determined it was not "severely" damaged, so the pilot decided to fly back to CZL. The pilot elected to perform one touch-and-go landing at CZL before returning to 8A1. He reported that the takeoff and landing were normal, but when he added engine power for the next takeoff, the airplane again veered left off the runway despite full right rudder. The nose wheel struck an object, damaging the engine mounts, propeller, and airframe.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. He reported a total flight experience of 119 hours, with 16 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate was issued on April 26, 2017.
Operator Comments
According to the operator, after the first incident, he spoke with the mechanic at 8A1, who determined there was no damage to the airplane and no mechanical issues with the nose wheel. The operator offered to pick up the pilot, but the pilot declined. Shortly after, the operator received a text message that the airplane had left the runway again and was more heavily damaged. The operator then flew to Guntersville and retrieved the pilot.
The operator stated that the airplane had no previous mechanical problems with steering or the nose wheel. The airplane was a "daily rental" and flew regularly. The operator, also a flight instructor, flew with the pilot after the accident and performed 7-9 takeoffs and landings without incident.
Weather Conditions
Weather at Albertville Regional Airport (8A0), about 11 miles south of the accident site, at 1435, was reported as wind from 190° at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, clouds broken at 5,000 feet, temperature 31°C, dew point 25°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.15 inches of mercury.
Aircraft Information
The accident airplane was a Cessna 172N, registration N73929. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the intended destination of CZL.