ERA22LA292

The pilot of the vintage tailwheel airplane was attempting a takeoff from an uphill 1,550-ft-long turf airstrip, with a 3-knot left-quartering headwind and in an 80° F ambient temperature. The airplane lifted off at the end of the airstrip; however, the right main landing gear and right horizontal stabilizer impacted the top of a 4.5-ft high fence. The airplane then settled into a field on the other side of the fence and during the landing roll, the right main gear impacted a groundhog hole and collapsed. Initial examination of the wreckage revealed substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that the engine sputtered for about 3 seconds before collision with the fence and additional examination of the engine was planned following recovery of the wreckage from the field; however, the pilot did not respond to subsequent requests regarding the disposition of the engine for examination. He also was unable to produce maintenance and pilot logbooks for examination. Whether an engine anomaly may have contributed to the accident could not be determined. Review of the airplane’s owner’s handbook revealed a published takeoff distance of 625 ft on a hard turf surface. More recent publications listed a takeoff ground roll of 1,050 ft; however, none of the data accounted for performance considerations such as an upsloping turf runway, high ambient temperatures, or distance to clear obstacles.

On June 25, 2022, about 1020 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N77863, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near New Market, Virginia. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was attempting to take off from a 1,550-ft long, upsloping turf airstrip. At the time of the accident, the prevailing wind was a 3-knot left-quartering headwind, and the ambient temperature was 80°F. The pilot added that, as the airplane lifted off, the engine sputtered for about 3 seconds. The airplane did not gain enough altitude and the right main landing gear and right horizontal stabilizer impacted the top of a 4.5-ft high fence located about 60 ft from the departure end of the runway. The airplane then settled into a field on the other side of the fence and, during the landing roll, the right main landing gear impacted a groundhog hole and collapsed. Initial examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer. Additional examination of the engine was planned following recovery of the wreckage from the field; however, the pilot did not respond to subsequent requests regarding the disposition of the engine for examination. He also was unable to produce maintenance and pilot logbooks for examination. The airplane was manufactured in 1946 and its Owner’s Handbook indicated, “Take-Off Distance – 625 feet on a hard turf surface.” More recent publications listed a takeoff ground roll of 1,050 ft; however, none of the data accounted for an upsloping turf runway, ambient temperature of 80°F, or distance to clear a 4.5-ft obstacle.