ANC00LA119

The pilot said that immediately after takeoff, he had difficulty lowering the float-equipped airplane's nose. The airplane stalled and impacted the water. The pilot said he thought the elevator trim did not function. He also stated that there was a large moose rack tied to the left float. Postaccident inspection by two FAA inspectors revealed the stabilizer rear trim mechanism was in the neutral position and rotated freely. The rear stabilizer hinge was free to rotate. The stabilizer trim actuator handle in the cockpit was missing, and the actuator would only partially engage. The inspectors could not determine if the damage was preaccident or postaccident.

On September 11, 2000, about 1100 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N9692P, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a lake about 16 miles southeast of Sleetmute, Alaska, at 61 degrees, 26 minutes north latitude, 156 degrees, 59 minutes west longitude. The commercial pilot was not injured. The single passenger received serious injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, by Anderson Wilderness Guide Service, Inc., of McComb, Michigan, as a hunter guide flight. The flight was departing for Sleetmute. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge during a telephone interview on September 22, and in his NTSB pilot/operator report, that immediately after takeoff he had difficulty lowering the airplane's nose. He said that while attempting to return to the lake, the airplane stalled and impacted the water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot said he thought the elevator trim did not function. He also stated that there was a large moose rack tied to the left float.

Postaccident inspection of the airplane on October 17 by two FAA inspectors, after it had been recovered to Wolf Lake Airport, Alaska, revealed the stabilizer rear trim mechanism was in the neutral position and rotated freely. The rear stabilizer hinge was free to rotate. The stabilizer trim actuator handle in the cockpit was missing, and the actuator would only partially engage. The inspectors could not determine if the damage was preaccident or postaccident.