20111230030009I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Dial Robert M THORP T-18 · Kennesaw, GA · December 30, 2011

Date: December 30, 2011 · 15:56 local
Place: Kennesaw, GA
Airport: Mccollum Field
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N31BD
Reported as: Dial Robert M Thorp T-18
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,150 total800 in this make and model

N31BDRegistered now · Dial Robert M THORP T-18S/N 354 · Built 1983 Airframe modelDial Robert M THORP T-18 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 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.

Pilot reported that during takeoff roll and transitioning to main gear (tailwheel), he encountered a wind gust that caused the aircraft to swerve to the left. He continued to control for takeoff and in recovery a impact was felt of unknown origin after passing PAPI lights. He requested immediate landing to investigate impact result. He landed without futher incident. Airport manager arrived a short time later and revealed object of impact, one PAPI light cover.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF ROLL AND TRANSITIONING TO MAIN GEAR (TAILWHEEL), HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST THAT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT. HE CONTINUED TO CONTROL FOR TAKEOFF AND IN RECOVERY A IMPACT WAS FELT OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN AFTER PASSING PAPI LIGHTS. HE REQUESTED IMMEDIATE LANDING TO INVESTIGATE IMPACT RESULT. HE LANDED WITHOUT FUTHER INCIDENT. AIRPORT MANAGER ARRIVED A SHORT TIME LATER AND REVEALED OBJECT OF IMPACT, ONE PAPI LIGHT COVER.