What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Rejected downwind takeoff late due a lack of acceleration. (.4)the pilot stated that he performed an engine run-up before starting a takeoff with no discrepancies noted. He positioned the airplane on the 2,300 foot grass airstrip (runway 17), and began taking off with a right quartering tailwind from 310 degrees at 8 knots. He applied full throttle, and noted that during the early portion of the takeoff roll, the engine RPM was at the red line. At about midfield, he noted that the acceleration seemed sluggish. He continued the takeoff roll, and about 2/3 down the runway with the tailwheel still on the runway surface, he aborted the takeoff. However, he was unable to stop the airplane before colliding with a tree beyond the end of the airstrip. Investigation revealed the magnetos were not properly timed. Also, there were indications that the carburetor and accelerator pump were not functioning properly. (-23)"baten's air strip" is a private 2300 feet ling sod airstrip located in Troy, north carolina. A takeoff from this field was attempted by the pilot of Cessna 170 N2554V, and then rejected when he felt that the convention al tailwheel aircraft was not accelerating as it should. Based on the pilot's account, there is no indication of an airframe or engine malfunction, and weather and wind were not a factor. He also feels that uder the prevailing conditions a normal takeoff was possible. For certain the airplane accelerated enough that the remaining field length was not sufficient to stop.
As the FAA filed it
REJECTED DOWNWIND TAKEOFF LATE DUE A LACK OF ACCELERATION. (.4)THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PERFORMED AN ENGINE RUN-UP BEFORE STARTING A TAKEOFF WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. HE POSITIONED THE AIRPLANE ON THE 2,300 FOOT GRASS AIRSTRIP (RUNWAY 17), AND BEGAN TAKING OFF WITH A RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND FROM 310 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS. HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, AND NOTED THAT DURING THE EARLY PORTION OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE ENGINE RPM WAS AT THE RED LINE. AT ABOUT MIDFIELD, HE NOTED THAT THE ACCELERATION SEEMED SLUGGISH. HE CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND ABOUT 2/3 DOWN THE RUNWAY WITH THE TAILWHEEL STILL ON THE RUNWAY SURFACE, HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A TREE BEYOND THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE MAGNETOS WERE NOT PROPERLY TIMED. ALSO, THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT THE CARBURETOR AND ACCELERATOR PUMP WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. (-23)"BATEN'S AIR STRIP" IS A PRIVATE 2300 FEET LING SOD AIRSTRIP LOCATED IN TROY, NORTH CAROLINA. A TAKEOFF FROM THIS FIELD WAS ATTEMPTED BY THE PILOT OF CESSNA 170 N2554V, AND THEN REJECTED WHEN HE FELT THAT THE CONVENTION AL TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT WAS NOT ACCELERATING AS IT SHOULD. BASED ON THE PILOT'S ACCOUNT, THERE IS NO INDICATION OF AN AIRFRAME OR ENGINE MALFUNCTION, AND WEATHER AND WIND WERE NOT A FACTOR. HE ALSO FEELS THAT UDER THE PREVAILING CONDITIONS A NORMAL TAKEOFF WAS POSSIBLE. FOR CERTAIN THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED ENOUGH THAT THE REMAINING FIELD LENGTH WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO STOP.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.