Accident Overview
On June 3, 2018, at approximately 0945 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registration N8698, was substantially damaged during a rejected takeoff near Warsaw, Kentucky. The pilot, who held an airline transport pilot certificate with single-engine commercial privileges, was not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal operation.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot reported a total flight experience of 14,500 hours, including 250 hours in the accident airplane make and model. He held a BasicMed certification. The aircraft was based at the private turf airstrip from which the takeoff was attempted.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, the preflight inspection, engine start, taxi, and engine run-up were normal. During the takeoff roll, he applied full power, and the initial acceleration was normal. However, as the airspeed reached 60 mph, he noticed that the aircraft acceleration was not normal. He determined that the airplane would not clear trees at the end of the runway and that he would be unable to stop before the runway end. He rejected the takeoff, applied right rudder, and the airplane ground-looped and came to a stop. Later, the pilot reported that the engine lost power on takeoff.
Runway and Environmental Conditions
The airport was a private, unpublished turf field with a single runway measuring 1,100 ft long by 125 ft wide, oriented north-south. The runway elevation was about 800 ft mean sea level (msl) at its southern end, increasing to about 835 ft at its northern end, a gradient of approximately 3%. The pilot attempted the takeoff toward the north. The grass was described as short and had recently been mowed.
Weather reported at Cincinnati–Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), about 16 nautical miles north, at 0952 included wind from 290° at 12 knots, temperature 24°C, dew point 20°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.86 inHg. The calculated density altitude for the 800-ft elevation airport was 2,389 ft.
Aircraft Examination
An FAA inspector examined the aircraft and found substantial damage to the fuselage aft of the rear window. Fuel was present in both wing tanks. The propeller rotated freely by hand, and thumb compression and suction were confirmed on all four cylinders. All engine controls were intact from the cockpit to the engine. The air intake was unobstructed. The carburetor inlet screen was free of debris, and the carburetor bowl contained fuel.
Performance Information
The pilot’s operating handbook indicated that the runway distance required to clear a 50-ft obstacle on a level, paved runway at maximum gross weight (1,650 lbs) was 1,202 ft. At the time of the accident, the airplane weighed about 1,412 lbs. Calculations adjusting for weight, turf surface, and a headwind component of about 3 knots yielded a distance required of approximately 938 ft for a level runway. The Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3B) notes that prior to takeoff, the pilot should identify a point at which the airplane should be airborne; if not airborne by that point, the takeoff should be discontinued to allow stopping on the remaining runway without extraordinary measures.