20020609011539A

(.19) On June 9, 2002, about 0635 pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 17-30A, N8249R, made a hard landing at Fallon, Nevada. The owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91. The private pilot sustained minor injuries, one passenger sustained serious injuries, and one passenger was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Fallon about 0630 en route to lake havasu city, Arizona. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot stated that the winds were light and variable and favored departure on runway 03. Start, taxi, run up, and takeoff were not remarkable. According to the pilot, his usual procedure during the initial climb was to raise the flaps from the takeoff setting. After he did this, he usually felt the airplane settle. After he raised the flaps on this takeoff, the airplane did not seem to climb. He noticed 2,700 RPM on the tachometer, but did not remember the manifold pressure. He lowered the nose to gain airspeed, but then had to raise the nose again to reestablish a climb. He repeated the cycle of raising and lowering the nose as he turned back to the airfield. He cleared a row of hangars by several feet and landed 90 degrees across the runway in dirt. He maintained the landing gear in the down position throughout the sequence. The airplane hit a berm on the uneven terrain. (-23) the pilot stated that on take-off he raised the flaps and the aircraft settled as usual, but then would not climb as usual. He said he lowered the nose to gain airspeed, but then had to raise the nose again to try and reestablish a climb. He said he just could not get any airspeed or get the airplane to climb. He continued the cycle of lowering and raising the nose as he maneuvered to return to the airport. He stated that the engine RPM remained high and seemed to run ok. He was airborne for approximately five minutes with the landing gear down and the stall warning chirping. He does not recall the manifold pressure or any of the other engine instrument readings. The airplane had full fuel and was at or near gross weight. The pilot does not recall the density altitude. He was perpendicular to the runway on approach, cleared a forty foot light pole and row of hangars, collided with the taxiway, skidded to and across the runway and came to rest upright thirty five feet clear of the runway. The pilot has minor injuries, his wife seriously injured, and son unhurt. The airplane has the landing gear driven up through the wings and the engine torn away from the airframe by hitting a berm in the uneven terrain.