20010901036279A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Maule M-7-235B · Koliganek, AK · September 1, 2001

Date: September 1, 2001 · 21:00 local
Place: Koliganek, AK
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N1007U
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC01LA131
Reported as: Maule M7235B

N1007URegistered now · Maule M-7-235BS/N 23047C · Built 1998 Airframe modelMaule M-7-235B Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

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.

(-23) On August 1st N1007U an M7 Maule was attempting a takeoff from a 1500 foot lake. The wind was 5MPH but was switching from north to south and back again. The pilot stated "that he shut the engine down several times to check the wind." A step turn south departure was chosen. The pilot states that "he got on the step quickly and made his turn and was waiting for 75MPH to lift off because the airplane was quite heavy"; suddenly the pilot states "he realized that he was quickly running out of lake and reached for the flap handle on the left side of the seat." Not finding the flap handle he jerked the aircraft into the air impacting the five foot bank at the end of the lake.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON AUGUST 1ST N1007U AN M7 MAULE WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A 1500 FOOT LAKE. THE WIND WAS 5MPH BUT WAS SWITCHING FROM NORTH TO SOUTH AND BACK AGAIN. THE PILOT STATED "THAT HE SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN SEVERAL TIMES TO CHECK THE WIND." A STEP TURN SOUTH DEPARTURE WAS CHOSEN. THE PILOT STATES THAT "HE GOT ON THE STEP QUICKLY AND MADE HIS TURN AND WAS WAITING FOR 75MPH TO LIFT OFF BECAUSE THE AIRPLANE WAS QUITE HEAVY"; SUDDENLY THE PILOT STATES "HE REALIZED THAT HE WAS QUICKLY RUNNING OUT OF LAKE AND REACHED FOR THE FLAP HANDLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT." NOT FINDING THE FLAP HANDLE HE JERKED THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE AIR IMPACTING THE FIVE FOOT BANK AT THE END OF THE LAKE.

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 ANC01LA131Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportKoliganek, AKThe pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff. A factor in the accident was the pilot's diverted attention during the takeoff.Sep 1, 2001 · Substantial damage