20000108028989A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-32R-301T · Harpswell, ME · January 8, 2000

Date: January 8, 2000 · 21:00 local
Place: Harpswell, ME
Airport: Farr Field Airport
Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N8463X
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC00LA065
Reported as: Piper PA32R301T
Reported engine: Lycoming TIO540S1AD
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,625 total2,475 in this make and model42 in the last 90 days

N8463XRegistered now · Piper PA-32R-301TS/N 32R-8229009 · Built 1981 Airframe modelPiper PA-32R-301T Engine modelLycoming TI0-540 seriesTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)The pilot departed on runway 32, an unlighted turf runway on a dark night. When he rotated, he lost sight of the trees on the sides of the runway, and the runway ahead. The right wing of the airplane struck trees on the right side of the runway prior to the departure end of the runway. The pilot continued with the takeoff and climbed to altitude. He reported that he was not certain if the wind drifted the airplane to the right, or he initiated a slight right turn. Winds in the area were reported to be from 210 to 220 degrees at 10 to 14 knots. Upon landing at a nearby airport, examination of the airplane revealed the right main landing gear was bent rearward, and the spar of the right horizontal stabilator had been bent rearward. (-23) pilot departed private field in Harpswell, ME and struck trees on departure. Pilot continued the flight to portland, ME.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE PILOT DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 32, AN UNLIGHTED TURF RUNWAY ON A DARK NIGHT. WHEN HE ROTATED, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE TREES ON THE SIDES OF THE RUNWAY, AND THE RUNWAY AHEAD. THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT CONTINUED WITH THE TAKEOFF AND CLIMBED TO ALTITUDE. HE REPORTED THAT HE WAS NOT CERTAIN IF THE WIND DRIFTED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT, OR HE INITIATED A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN. WINDS IN THE AREA WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 210 TO 220 DEGREES AT 10 TO 14 KNOTS. UPON LANDING AT A NEARBY AIRPORT, EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS BENT REARWARD, AND THE SPAR OF THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILATOR HAD BEEN BENT REARWARD. (-23) PILOT DEPARTED PRIVATE FIELD IN HARPSWELL, ME AND STRUCK TREES ON DEPARTURE. PILOT CONTINUED THE FLIGHT TO PORTLAND, ME.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC00LA065Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHarpswell, MEwas the improper decision of the pilot to depart at night, from an unlighted runway with no visual references to obstructions on the sides of the runway. Factors were the dark night conditions, and the lack of runway side lights.Jan 9, 2000 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8463X · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19820119070259IForced/Precautionary Landing · Denver, CONeglected to turn on master switch to extend gear. Landed gear up. Had switch off due to leaking fuel flow gauge.Jan 19, 1982 · Minor damage