20200604007809A

On June 04, 2020 at 1920 local time, a float equipped Piper PA-18-150 super cub aircraft, N86EE, registered to and operated by a private pilot, received substantial damage during a failed attempt to takeoff from a towed trailer at the wexford county airport (cad) Cadillac, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions and moderate cross winds prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of title 14 code of federal regulations (CFR) part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries.

According to the pilot, straight floats were just re-installed on the aircraft and this was to be a repositioning flight to his waterfront home where the aircraft is based during the summer. It is common practice to trailer launch straight float equipped aircraft from dry land and the pilot stated he had performed the maneuver once a year for the previous 5 or 6 years.

The pilot states he had arrived earlier in the afternoon to pick-up the aircraft but, winds were gusting and he felt a launch later in the day would be beneficial because of potential lower winds near evening. Just prior to the accident the pilot and the individual driving the tow vehicle decided to attempt the launch, feeling the winds had decreased sufficiently to perform the maneuver successfully. Once in the aircraft, the pilot communicated to the driver to start the launch run down runway 25. The pilot believes at approximately 50 to 55 miles per hour the aircraft became light in the trailer and with a right crosswind, the aircraft drifted to the left as the aircraft became airborne. With the left drift, the port side float became entangled with part of the trailer inducing an immediate roll to the left and subsequent left wing strike on the runway surface. Once the wing hit the pavement the float separated from its entanglement with the trailer and the aircraft cartwheeled coming to rest in the grass just south of the runway surface. The pilot was able to egress from the aircraft as witnesses arrived to assist. Local fire and medical were called and arrived on site a short time later. There was no post impact fire and no reported mechanical anomalies with the aircraft prior to the accident.

According to the tow driver he believed the groundspeed to be closer to 65 miles per hour at the time of the accident.

Photographs show extensive damage to the entire aircraft. The aircraft is sitting upright on a heating of approximately 210 degrees. Left wing spar is broken and pushed up 45 degrees at the strut attach point. Cockpit area is breached with a total failure of the firewall, windshield, and skylight. The instrument panel and dash are crushed and resting on the rudder pedals and floor. The engine remained attached to the mount but is in a downward angle to the right. The propeller tips are bent aft and show cord-wise scratching. The right wing attach point is failed with the wing pushed aft with the leading edge showing extensive crush damage. The right fuel tank is breached at the fuel line connection. The fuselage is bent and compressed downward in the cabin area. Both floats show buckling and crush damage.

Weather: kcad, 042255Z, 34008KT, 10SM, clr, 25/07, A29.76