20220728021679A

ON JULY 28, 2022, AT APPROXIMATELY 1200 AKDT, A SINGLE ENGINE PIPER MODEL PA-18, REGISTRATION NUMBER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE AIRSTRIP NEAR MCCARTHY ALASKA. THE TWO COMMERCIAL RATED PILOTS OCCUPYING THE AIRCRAFT WERE NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED AS A 14 CODE OF FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS PART 91 FLIGHT CONDUCTED AS A PUBLIC AIRCRAFT OPERATION BY THE STATE OF ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AIRCRAFT SECTION.

THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS RECEIVING TRAINING IN OFF-AIRPORT OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT HAD A VERY SHORT LANDING STRIP AT HIGH ALTITUDE, SO HE AND THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM TRAINING AT OTHER LOCATIONS UNTIL SUFFICIENT FUEL BURN-OFF REDUCED THE WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE LANDING AT THE ACCIDENT LOCATION. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE AND THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WALKED THE LENGTH OF THE AIRSTRIP PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND NOTED THAT BOTH ENDS OF THE FIELD WERE WET AND WOULD REDUCE THE AVAILABLE TAKEOFF DISTANCE FROM APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET TO APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET. THE PILOT STATED THAT ALL PRE-TAKEOFF CHECKS WERE PERFORMED AND THE ENGINE WAS LEANED FOR THE 3,500 FOOT ALTITUDE OF THE ACCIDENT LOCATION. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER LIFTOFF, IT BECAME APPARENT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT CLEAR THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN DUE TO HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, SO HE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AND LANDED JUST BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST, BOTH PILOTS ASSESSED THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND THE ELEVATOR HORN ON THE RIGHT ELEVATOR HAD SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM STRIKING A TREE DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF. THE PILOT STATED THAT A CHANGE IN WIND DIRECTION MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.