What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot statement taken by phone at 1325.
While back taxing on a narrow snow packed runway, with straight skis installed, at about 15 to 20 miles per hour, the aircraft hit a snow drift.
This caused the aircraft to sink and pull to the left.
The pilot applied power to get the aircraft back on the runway.
That in turn, caused the left wing to strike a small tree branch, about 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Which made the aircraft yaw to the left, exerting a side load on the right landing gear which caused it to brake off. Once the gear broke off, the right wing came in contact with the ground causing significant damage to the wing.
Pilot's risk mitigation plan:
The pilot would increase the width of the runway come summer, and the pilot would use the helicopter instead of the airplane during the winter months.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT STATEMENT TAKEN BY PHONE AT 1325.
WHILE BACK TAXING ON A NARROW SNOW PACKED RUNWAY, WITH STRAIGHT SKIS INSTALLED, AT ABOUT 15 TO 20 MILES PER HOUR, THE AIRCRAFT HIT A SNOW DRIFT.
THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO SINK AND PULL TO THE LEFT.
THE PILOT APPLIED POWER TO GET THE AIRCRAFT BACK ON THE RUNWAY.
THAT IN TURN, CAUSED THE LEFT WING TO STRIKE A SMALL TREE BRANCH, ABOUT 3 TO 4 INCHES IN DIAMETER. WHICH MADE THE AIRCRAFT YAW TO THE LEFT, EXERTING A SIDE LOAD ON THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR WHICH CAUSED IT TO BRAKE OFF. ONCE THE GEAR BROKE OFF, THE RIGHT WING CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE WING.
PILOT'S RISK MITIGATION PLAN:
THE PILOT WOULD INCREASE THE WIDTH OF THE RUNWAY COME SUMMER, AND THE PILOT WOULD USE THE HELICOPTER INSTEAD OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N7741A · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.