THE PLT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL BIPLANE ATTEMPTS A TKOF FROM A TXWY AT A NON TWR ARPT; FLIPPING OVER AFTER CONTACTING THE TALL CORN GROWING ON THE SIDES OF THE STRIP AT 6H8; ND.

Date: 2001-10 · Aircraft: Amateur/Home Built/Experimental · Phase: takeoff

Anomalies: conflict-ground-conflict|critical|ground-event-encounter-loss-of-aircraft-control|ground-excursion-taxiway|inflight-event-encounter-cftt-cfit

Synopsis

THE PLT OF AN EXPERIMENTAL BIPLANE ATTEMPTS A TKOF FROM A TXWY AT A NON TWR ARPT; FLIPPING OVER AFTER CONTACTING THE TALL CORN GROWING ON THE SIDES OF THE STRIP AT 6H8; ND.

Narrative

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM A NARROW TURF TXWY; I DRIFTED TOO FAR L AND; WHEN ALMOST AT LIFTOFF SPD; THE L WING CONTACTED TALL CORN GROWING BESIDE THE TXWY. THIS CAUSED THE PLANE TO TURN INTO THE CORNFIELD; TIP ONTO ITS NOSE AND TURN OVER ON ITS BACK. APPARENTLY THE CORN CAUSED ENOUGH DECELERATION AND CUSHIONING TO PREVENT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OR INJURY. DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO: BENT PROP; BENT CRANKSHAFT FLANGE; CRACKED NOSEBOWL; PAINT SCRAPES; ONE SMALL FABRIC PUNCTURE IN TOP WING AND SEVERAL DENTS IN THE TOP OF THE LEADING EDGE SKIN OF THE UPPER WING. AN INSPECTION BY AN A&P/IA REVEALED NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE AND REPAIRS WILL CONSIST OF COSMETIC ITEMS; ENG TEARDOWN AND PROP REPAIR. USING THE TXWY AS A RWY IS A COMMON LCL PRACTICE; SINCE IT IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE MAIN RWY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING CONFLICTS WITH OTHER TFC IS MINIMAL (THERE ARE PROBABLY JUST A FEW OPS PER WK AT THIS UNATTENDED ARPT AND THE RWY/TXWY DO NOT CROSS). HOWEVER; THE TXWY IS QUITE NARROW AND IS FLANKED BY CORNFIELDS ON EITHER SIDE. THERE IS LITTLE ROOM FOR ERROR OR INATTN (THE LATTER BEING THE CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT). I COULD HAVE AVOIDED THIS INCIDENT BY BEING MORE 1) PATIENT -- THERE WAS CERTAINLY TIME TO TAXI TO THE WIDER MAIN RWY. 2) CAUTIOUS -- TOO MUCH CONFIDENCE AFTER TOO MANY YRS OF FLYING WITHOUT INCIDENT GOT ME IN TROUBLE. ALSO; EVEN THOUGH THE LCLS USE THE TXWY AS A RWY; I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR WHEN THERE ARE STRONG XWINDS ON THE MAIN RWY; AND THEN ONLY WITH GREAT CAUTION DUE TO POSSIBLE CONFLICTS WITH OTHER TFC (NOT A FACTOR IN THIS CASE). OF COURSE; THERE'S ALWAYS THE BETTER OPTION OF DIVERTING TO A MORE FAVORABLE ARPT. THE LIMITED VISIBILITY OF FLYING A BIPLANE (SOLO FROM REAR SEAT) WAS MAYBE A FACTOR; BUT WITH 180 HRS OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN BIPLANES I SHOULD BE SOMEWHAT USED TO THEIR LIMITATIONS BY NOW. OBVIOUSLY; ONE LIMITATION IS VISIBILITY WHEN USING NARROW RWYS. (WON'T DO THAT AGAIN.)

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.