PTZJA

On August 24, 1999, at 1110 Pacific daylight time, an Embraer ERJ-135, PTZJA, registered to and operated by Embraer as a 14 CFR Part 91 test flight, dragged a wing tip on the runway and damaged runway lights during a minimum unstick speed flight test at the Grant County Airport, Moses Lake, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane received minor damage and the two airline transport pilots and flight engineer, were not injured.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that the test maneuver was a minimum unstick speed determination. The pilot stated that during the eighth takeoff the aircraft lifted off to about five feet and, just prior to achieving aileron effectiveness, the aircraft rolled to the left. The left wing dropped and contacted the runway surface, resulting in minor damage to the wingtip and outboard trailing edge of the aileron. The pilot continued the takeoff and returned for landing without further incident.