LAX08CA051

The pilot took off in his ski-equipped airplane. Upon accelerating through 65 mph, just as the airplane was beginning to climb, the pilot heard a noise coming from the side of the airplane. He saw that the tip of a ski was dislodged from its normal position, and was upside down. After evaluating the situation, the pilot decided to land on the same ski runway. As the airplane decelerated following touchdown, the pilot lost directional control, and the airplane swerved and nosed over. During the subsequent examination of the airplane, a bungee cable, used to secure and position one of the skis to the landing gear strut, was found too long. The ski assembly shock cords on the skis were found to be in poor condition, aged, and weak.

On January 19, 2008, about 1720 mountain standard time, a Luscombe 8E, N71730, nosed over during landing at the Brigham City Airport, Brigham City, Utah. The airplane's left wing impacted the snow-covered runway surface, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot was not injured. The pilot owned and operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight originated from the airport about 1630.

The pilot reported that during takeoff in his ski-equipped airplane, just as he was beginning to ascend at 65 miles per hour, he heard a noise coming from the side of the airplane. The pilot observed that the tip of a ski was dislodged from its normal position; it was upside down.

After evaluating the situation, the pilot decided to land on the same ski runway from which he had departed. Following touchdown, as the airplane decelerated, directional control was lost as the airplane swerved and nosed over. The pilot examined his airplane, and he noted that the ski attachment bungee cables were intact. However, "it appeared that the front cable (on one ski) was too long."

The pilot reported having flown his airplane many times with skis and he has never had a problem. But, on the accident flight, the "age of the bungee cord" may be in question. This was the pilot's first flight with skis in 10 years.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator examined the airplane several days after the mishap. The FAA coordinator reported that portions of the ski-equipped airplane's structure were deformed, and the outboard span of the left wing's leading edge was crushed aft. One of the ski attachments to the main gear strut was broken, and the ski assembly had separated from the strut. The ski assembly shock cords on the skis, that hold the skis in position on the gear struts, were found in poor condition, aged, and weak.