TAIL DRAGGER TAKING OFF IN XWIND RUNS OFF SIDE OF RWY.
Synopsis
TAIL DRAGGER TAKING OFF IN XWIND RUNS OFF SIDE OF RWY.
Narrative
I AM A FLT INSTRUCTOR AT FREDERICK MUNICIPAL ARPT. I WORK AT FBO; WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE FIELD. I HAD FERRIED OUR SMA (TAIL DRAGGER) TO A NEARBY; PRIVATE AIRSTRIP FOR VERY MINOR MAINT. WHEN THAT MAINT WAS COMPLETE I MANEUVERED THE ACFT ONTO THE RWY. I HAD; IN THE REAR SEAT; THE OWNER ALONG. THIS PRIVATE; PAVED STRIP IS 40 FT WIDE AND 2300 FT LONG. THE SMA; SO LOADED; REQUIRES MUCH LESS THAN 1000 FT TO BECOME AIRBORNE. AFTER WE WERE ALIGNED ON THE CTRLINE AND OUR RUNUP WAS COMPLETE I GLANCED AT THE WINDSOCK JUST PRIOR TO PWRING UP. AT THAT TIME THE WIND WAS MODERATELY STRONG (ABOUT 18 KTS AT FDK) AND AT ABOUT 25 DEGS L TO R (25 DEGS L OF RWY HDG). I APPLIED FULL L AILERON AND FULL PWR. IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE ATTAINED EVEN MODERATE SPD THE ACFT BEGAN MOVING R. I APPLIED FULL L RUDDER BUT STILL THE ACFT DRIFTED R. WHEN I REALIZED THE R WHEEL WAS GOING TO DROP OFF THE EDGE OF THE PAVEMENT I GLANCED AT THE AIRSPD INDICATOR AND REALIZED I COULD NOT BECOME AIRBORNE IN ANY DEG OF SAFETY. AS THE WHEEL DROPPED OFF THE PAVEMENT I PULLED OFF ALL AVAILABLE PWR AND SIMPLY ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A HIGH SPD GND LOOP. WE ROLLED TO A STOP; ACTUALLY STOPPING SIDEWAYS. WHILE WE NEVER GND LOOPED; WE DID STRIKE THE L AILERON ON AN EMBANKMENT AND DID NICK THE OUTBOARD 4 INCHES OF THE PROP. AS TO CAUSE; I CANNOT SAY RELIABLY. WIND IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY; ALTHOUGH I HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT WIND AS A SOLE CAUSE. HAVING TAUGHT PEOPLE TO LAND THIS VERY ACFT; UP TO AND INCLUDING THAT MORNING; I AM FAMILIAR WITH ITS CHARACTERISTICS. I REMEMBER FEELING THAT FULL AILERON DEFLECTION; ALONG WITH FULL RUDDER SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT. IT MAY HAVE BEEN THAT MY VISIBILITY OVER THE HIGH COWLING (IT IS A TAIL DRAGGER) WAS INSUFFICIENT TO PROPERLY JUDGE MY DISTANCE FROM THE EDGE OF PAVEMENT. I HAVE RUN THROUGH IT SEVERAL TIMES; AND WHILE I FEEL LUCKY THE DAMAGE WAS SO MINOR; I AM UNSURE WHAT; IN TRUTH; CAUSED ME TO MOVE R.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.