20210228000179A

3/3/2021 Late report. On 2/28/2021 at approx. 1556 AKST, while landing on a snow packed runway at Tatitna Alaska, N1748R broke through a snow bank, the nose landing gear collapsed and the right wing hit the ground. Two blades of the propeller contacted the ground. No injuries were reported.

Investigation has started. (Tjw)

3/3/2021 Received FAA form 8020-9 from the roc. Contacted the NTSB iic and coordinated the beginning of the investigation. He released the aircraft and gave permission to travel to the hanger and view the aircraft after it has been moved back to anchorage. Spoke with the dom and was informed that the accident aircraft was in the process of being moved back to their hanger in anchorage and should be delivered late this evening. Will contact the dom tomorrow and schedule a time to view the aircraft and maintenance records. Requested weather data. Investigation is on going. (Tjw)

3/4/2021 Met with the dom and viewed the accident aircraft. Reviewed maintenance records and found no discrepancies. Received the statement from the accident pilot. Initially the event was reported as occurring on landing. After the review of the pilot's statement it shows that the event occurred on take off. Pilot stated that he had visited this airfield the previous week and was confident the snow was sufficiently packed down to facilitate takeoff and landing. The initial touchdown and rollout were uneventful. After initial take off roll at approx. 900 ft. down a snow packed 1200 ft. runway, at reported low speed, the right main wheel began to drag and dig a rut in the snow. Corrected with left rudder. As the aircraft yawed left, the left main wheel dropped into the rut created by the nose wheel. Unable to correct using full right rudder, the aircraft continued down the runway for approx. 15 ft. in a left crab position until the nose gear assembly failed in side overload to the left. The nose of the aircraft dropped onto the lower cowling and rocked right, striking the right wingtip on the snow as the aircraft came to a stop. The propeller contacted the ground at low RPM causing damage to 2 blades. Neither the pilot or the two passengers were injured and the ELT was not activated. Investigation is ongoing. (Tjw)

3/8/2021 Requested pilot license and medical information from the accident pilot. No discrepancies. Requested the weather source used for planning the day of the event. Investigation is ongoing. (Tjw)

3/10/2021 Received weather data from flight service. After review weather was clear on the day of the event. Low winds and no precipitation. Weather was not a factor. Pilot statement concurred with weather report. Investigation in ongoing. (Tjw)

3/17/2021 Accident pilot has no history of enforcement action or compliance action. He is an experienced pilot that made a poor decision to land on a snow packed runway without clear knowledge of the snow condition. He had landed at this runway a week prior with no incident but the snow had changed consistency over the week and it was not packed down sufficiently to support a landing and takeoff. Investigation is ongoing. (Tjw)

3/22/2021 Compliance action is ongoing. Will be tracked by cmt. As the compliance action is completed a amendment will be completed for this report. Investigation is complete. (Tjw)