NYC96FA113

The pilot initiated a downwind takeoff on runway 18 with two passengers aboard. He said that after a 600 foot ground run, he rotated the airplane for takeoff, and it climbed about 40 feet above the runway, then it stopped climbing and stopped accellerating. According to witnesses, the airplane entered a steep nose high attitude during takeoff, then after climbing briefly, the wings rocked (or wobbled) to the left and right. The pilot lowered the nose briefly and said he increased engine power '2 ticks into the yellow (arc).' He aborted the climb and attempted to land. After ground contact, the airplane veered off the runway. After stopping, a fire erupted, which resulted in further damage. The airplane's reciprocating engine had been replaced with an Allison 250-B17C, turbine engine per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA3523NM, by Tradewind Turbines, Amarillo, TX. The wind was estimated to be from 350 degrees at 15 knots. The Pilot's Operating Handbook showed that a ground roll of 1,800 feet would have been required for the takeoff conditions. The airplane was estimated to be 76 pounds over its maximum takeoff weight and about 2 inches beyond the forward center of gravity (CG) limit (as listed in the STC). Also, the pilot did not use maximum power for takeoff as described in the STC.

History of flight

On May 24, 1996, at 1645 eastern daylight time, a turboprop Beech A36, N59WW, was destroyed during a collision with terrain and post crash fire during takeoff at the Meriden-Markham Municipal Airport (MMK), Meriden, Connecticut. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at MMK. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot/owner stated that he and two passengers were departing for a flight to New Port, New Hampshire. He further stated:

"...After using 600' [feet] of active runway 18, airplane rotated and climbed to about 40', where aircraft would not fly. After two attempts at level flight, a decision was made to land aircraft in dirt area at departure end of runway. Four minutes later, fire started and burned aircraft."

During a May 29, 1996, telephone interview with the pilot, he stated that he received a weather briefing that morning, which called for winds from the north at 3 to 4 knots. The airplane had been fueled from his personal above ground fuel tank, where he filled the tip tanks, and added fuel to the tabs inside the wing tanks. He estimated that he departed with about 74 gallons of fuel, at a takeoff weight of 3,550 pounds.

The pilot taxied to runway 18. He stated that he always used runway 18, unless the tail wind exceeded 15 knots. The pilot observed that the wind sock was limp, and estimated the winds were only 3 to 5 knots from the north. He performed a rolling takeoff and set the takeoff torque at two ticks above the green arc on the torque gauge, just into the yellow area. He stated that this equated to 96 percent torque, which remained constant during the takeoff roll.

The pilot stated that he did not monitor the propeller RPM gauge, and could not recall the airspeed where he rotated the airplane for takeoff, but did recall 80 knots at some point during the initial climb. When the airplane reached about 40 feet above the ground, it stopped accelerating and climbing. The pilot briefly lowered the nose, then raised it again. He stated that the torque remained constant at 96 percent, until he increased the torque 2 percent to 98 percent. At that time he observed the turbine outlet temperature (TOT) needle was just above the green arc, in the yellow area of the TOT gauge. He also estimated the airplane's pitch attitude to be between 3 to 5 degrees nose up. When the pilot determined that he could not complete the takeoff, he reduced the power and attempted to land.

A witness at mid-field stated that he observed the airplane taxi out for takeoff on runway 18. He stated that the wind sock was straight out, indicating a north wind. He observed the airplane turn onto the runway and perform a rolling takeoff. He stated that when the airplane passed his position during the down wind takeoff roll, the "engine sounded fine." The witness further stated:

"...Very near the end of the runway...the aircraft rotated at a very steep angle. It appeared to climb 125' - 150'. Aircraft looked as if it were on a wall, I could almost see the windshield the angle was so steep. Aircraft stalled, wings wobbled violently, and aircraft rolled to left and nosed downward striking ground, nose and left wing first...then made a sharp turn to right and traveled a short distance as if being pushed or pulled along..."

A second witness at mid-field stated:

"...The plane took a long time to liftoff. Toward the end of the runway it started to go up steeply so you could see the top of the plane and wings. As it headed up it rocked violently left and right as it seemed to be pushed towards the trees. In no time it headed down and...left, and hit the ground in a nose heavy crash and spun around...."

Another witness in the operations building at the north end of the airport observed the airplane perform the rolling takeoff on runway 18. The airport wind machine was out of calibration, and he estimated that the winds were from the northeast at 10 knots. He also observed that the wind sock was extended about 3/4 of the way straight out, indicating a north wind. The witness stated the engine sounded "strong," and he did not detect any variation in the propeller RPM. The airplane rotated about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way down the runway, and it did not climb above 40 feet. He estimated the airplane's pitch up angle to be at least 20 degrees above the horizon, and he observed the wings wobble back and forth.

The witness then observed the left wing drop and airplane's nose and the wings leveled. This was followed by the nose of the airplane pitching up again to a climb angle greater than the original 20 degree nose-up rotation.

A police officer interviewed the pilot immediately after the accident. In the police officer's report he stated, "[The pilot] stated that he had attempted to takeoff to the south and that while traveling down the runway he realized that the plane was not developing enough lift and he decided to put it down." The report further stated, "[The pilot] was questioned as to why he had taken off to the south with the wind blowing straight down the runway in the same direction and he looked at the undersigned and refused to answer."

The airplane came to rest about 150 feet beyond the departure end of runway 18, and was consumed by a post crash fire. The accident occurred during the hours of daylight about 41 degrees, 31 minutes north latitude, and 72 degrees, 50 minutes west longitude.

Personnel information

The pilot, Mr. Norman W. Gavin, held a Private Pilot Certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, rotorcraft helicopter, and instrument airplane.

His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Third Class Medical Certificate was issued on March 30, 1996.

Mr. Gavin estimated his total flying experience to be about 2,500 hours, of which 500 hours were in make and model. Maintenance facility documents revealed that the airplane had accumulated approximately 283 hours after it was purchased by Mr. Gavin, in December, 1994. This was Mr. Gavin's only turboprop experience, and he had not received any formal training in turbine powered airplanes.

Aircraft information

The pilot/owner stated that all the maintenance records were stored in the airplane, and were consumed by the post crash fire.

The airplane was purchased by the pilot, through a broker in Texas, during December, 1994. The pilot had maintenance performed on the airplane by Tradewind Turbines LTD, Amarillo, Texas, before returning it to Connecticut. Tradewind records indicated that during the maintenance, a Hobbs meter reading of 44.7 hours was recorded.

During 1995, Aero Mechanical LTD., Wappingers Falls, New York, performed maintenance on the airplane. Maintenance dates and Hobbs meter readings were as follows:

March 14, 1995, Hobbs--- 77.8 hours. April 14, 1995, Hobbs----- 99.2 hours. May 1995, Hobbs----------133.9 hours. July 20, 1995, Hobbs-----176.3 hours.

On December 24, 1995, Aero Mechanical completed the annual inspection of the airplane, at a Hobbs meter reading of 238.1 hours, and a total airframe time of 1262.2 hours. The pilot stated during a telephone interview that he had flown about 90 hours on the airplane since the December annual inspection.

Meteorological information

At 1645, winds at the Hartford-Brainard Airport, Hartford, Connecticut, 18 miles northeast of MMK, were reported to be from 350 degrees, at 15 knots.

The police report revealed that during the on scene investigation, they estimated the winds at MMK to be from 340 degrees at 11 knots. The police report also stated that the runway was dry and clean, and the temperature was 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Aerodrome informati