A PA18 PLT; WHILE ATTEMPTING A GAR AT LONGMONT (2V2); CAME IN CONTACT WITH A FENCE; SUSTAINING SOME ACFT DAMAGE.

Narrative

WHILE GLIDER TOWING AT BOULDER (1V5) THE WIND ON THE GND CHANGED FROM 10-15 KTS TO WINDS CONSISTENTLY IN THE HIGH 20'S (I AM TOLD PEAK GUSTS OVER 45 KTS) DIRECTLY ACROSS THE RWY. AFTER ABORTING A LNDG ATTEMPT TO GO TO LONGMONT IN THE HOPE THAT WINDS WOULD BE MORE FAVORABLE IN TERMS OF DIRECTION AND/OR INTENSITY. WHILE ATTEMPTING A GAR AT LONGMONT; I FOUND MYSELF UNABLE TO CLB (POSSIBLY DUE TO THE WIND SHIFTING TO A TAILWIND) AND HIT A FENCE WHILE CLBING OUT. THE PLANE CONTINUED TO PERFORM AS NORMAL AND I DECIDED TO TRY AND FIND AN ALTERNATE ARPT WITH A MORE FAVORABLE WIND RWY COMBINATION. EVENTUALLY I LANDED AT ERIE TRI COUNTY (48V) WITH WINDS STILL OVER 25 KTS BUT ONLY 20 DEGS FROM THE RWY HDG. ON LNDG AT ERIE; TRI COUNTY; I FOUND THAT THE ACFT ALTHOUGH FLYABLE (AS DEMONSTRATED BY OVER AN HRS FLT TIME BTWN LONGMONT AND LNDG AT ERIE; TRI COUNTY) HAD SUSTAINED SOME DAMAGE. AFTER CONSULTING NTSB'S 830.2 DEFINITION OF SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE '...BENT FAIRINGS OR COWLING; DENTED SKIN; SMALL PUNCTURED HOLES IN THE SKIN OR FABRIC; GND DAMAGE TO ROTOR OR PROP BLADES; AND DAMAGE TO LNDG GEAR; WHEELS; TIRES; FLAPS; ENG ACCESSORIES; BRAKES; OR WINGTIPS ARE NOT CONSIDERED 'SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE' FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS PART.' I DETERMINED THAT THE SUPER CUB HAD NOT SUSTAINED 'SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE' AND CONSEQUENTLY AM SUBMITTING THIS INCIDENT RPT.