CHI02CA191

The aircraft sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during an aborted takeoff. The pilot stated that he was using a short field takeoff procedure versus a soft field due to the trees off the end of the airstrip. He reported that during the takeoff the airplane contacted a bump in the terrain and became prematurely airborne. The pilot stated that he did not have sufficient flying speed to continue the departure and he lowered the nose in an attempt to increase airspeed. According to the pilot, he was not sure if he would be able to clear the trees at the end of the runway so he decided to abort the takeoff. He stated that he reduced the power to idle, the aircraft bounced once on the ground, and he applied hard braking. The pilot reported that the nose gear collapsed when it dug into the sandy terrain and the aircraft nosed over. Inspection of the accident site revealed the airplane was approximately one half way down the airstrip when it nosed over.

On July 13, 2002, at 1020 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N6912S, operated by a private pilot, nosed over during an aborted takeoff on runway 03 (2,010 feet by 100 feet, sandy, turf) at the Mecosta Morton Airport, Mecosta, Michigan. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorolgoical conditions and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with an intended destination of Fremont, Michigan.

The pilot reported that he had flown to Mecosta from Fremont earlier in the day and he was returning to Fremont when the accident occurred. He stated they landed at Mecosta using runway 03 earlier in the day. When he was getting ready to depart he checked some local flags and determined that runway 03 would be used for departure.

The pilot stated that because of trees off the end of the airstrip, he was using a shortfield takeoff procedure versus a softfield. He stated he applied brakes and advanced the power prior to releasing the brakes. During the takeoff, the airplane contacted a bump in the terrain and it became airborne. He reported he was holding the control yoke in the aft position for the takeoff, so this made it easier for the airplane to become airborne when it hit the bump. The pilot stated he did not have sufficient flying speed so he lowered the nose in an attempt to increase the airspeed. He stated he wasn't sure he was going to be able to clear the trees at the end of the runway and given that he still had about 1,000 of runway remaining, he decided to abort the takeoff. He stated that he reduced the power to idle and the airplane bounced once prior to staying on the ground. Once on the ground he applied hard braking. It was during this time that the nose gear dug into the sandy terrain and the airplane nosed over.

He stated he had landed and taken off at the Mecosta Airport a couple of times in the past so he was familiar with the airport.

Inspection of the accident site by and inspector from the Grand Rapids, Michigan, Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office revealed the airplane was approximately one half way down the airstrip when it nosed over.