# Accident 20060515020959A: Amtr AVIDMAGNUM, Big Timber, MT, May 15, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 15, 2006, 20:00 local time
- Place: Big Timber, MT
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.1686° N, 109.8883° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1686&lon=-109.8883&mi=10
- Aircraft: N124WT, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N124WT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Helmer William B AVID MAGNUM (registry code 05612F5, https://openairdocs.org/model/helmer-william-b-avid-magnum) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR AVIDMAGNUM
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,935 total, 200 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA06CA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA095) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060515020959A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) NOT REPORTED TO THE FAA UNTIL 10/11/06 NTSB STATEMENT: ON MAY 15, 2006, APPROXIMATELY 2000 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, AN EXPERIMENTAL HELMER AVID MAGNUM, N124WT, COLLIDED WITH A FENCE DURING A TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR BIG TIMBER, MONTANA. THE PRIVATE PILOT, WHO WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS FOR A LOCAL PERSONAL FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT DOOR POPPED OPEN, SO HE SHUT IT. THEN A FEW MOMENTS LATER, THE DOOR POPPED OPEN AGAIN, AND THE PILOT CLOSED IT A SECOND TIME. WHILE HE WAS CLOSING THE DOOR FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. AT THAT POINT, THE PILOT SAW THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEADING FOR A GATE POST AND A FENCE, SO HE PULLED THE STICK BACK IN HOPES OF CLEARING THE OBSTACLES. BUT, THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING IMPACTED THE POST, AND THE AIRCRAFT SPUN AROUND ABOUT 200 DEGREES, AND CAME TO REST WITH ITS RIGHT WING ENTANGLED IN THE FENCE STRUCTURE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA06CA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA095), May 16, 2006: Helmer Avid Magnum (N124WT), Big Timber, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after he diverted his attention to close the aircraft's door during the takeoff roll. Factors include a fence and fence post along the side of the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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