What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot states that he and 1 passenger were taking off of runway 23 spa. Passenger was with the pilot as safety pilot to do some approaches. When the aircraft rotated at approximately 55- 60 knots the front gear collapsed and the aircraft skidded approximately 200 feet to a stop. The pilot further stated, generally, when I take off in this airplane, I just pull back pressure on the yoke and let the plane take off. I don’t use much back pressure till I get to 55 knots and then increase it slightly. There was a slight shimmy in the nose gear when I hit a bump while taxing out and I pulled back on the yoke and it stopped. I have had that problem worked on and hadn’t had any problem with it till today. No one was hurt and we cleared the aircraft off the runway with the help of our mechanics. The airport staff alerted other pilots via the AWOS as well. The aircraft was towed too hanger d at the airport. Pilot gave instructions that no work would be done until the FAA and insurance company looked at it.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT STATES THAT HE AND 1 PASSENGER WERE TAKING OFF OF RUNWAY 23 SPA. PASSENGER WAS WITH THE PILOT AS SAFETY PILOT TO DO SOME APPROACHES. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED AT APPROXIMATELY 55- 60 KNOTS THE FRONT GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET TO A STOP. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED, GENERALLY, WHEN I TAKE OFF IN THIS AIRPLANE, I JUST PULL BACK PRESSURE ON THE YOKE AND LET THE PLANE TAKE OFF. I DON’T USE MUCH BACK PRESSURE TILL I GET TO 55 KNOTS AND THEN INCREASE IT SLIGHTLY. THERE WAS A SLIGHT SHIMMY IN THE NOSE GEAR WHEN I HIT A BUMP WHILE TAXING OUT AND I PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE AND IT STOPPED. I HAVE HAD THAT PROBLEM WORKED ON AND HADN’T HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH IT TILL TODAY. NO ONE WAS HURT AND WE CLEARED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE RUNWAY WITH THE HELP OF OUR MECHANICS. THE AIRPORT STAFF ALERTED OTHER PILOTS VIA THE AWOS AS WELL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED TOO HANGER D AT THE AIRPORT. PILOT GAVE INSTRUCTIONS THAT NO WORK WOULD BE DONE UNTIL THE FAA AND INSURANCE COMPANY LOOKED AT IT.
Other reports on N216JA · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.