Summary
On July 16, 2011, a Hamlin John D CH701 (N9040W) was involved in an accident near Paxton, IL. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury, with 1 person uninjured out of 2 aboard. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's decision to takeoff with a tailwind in high density altitude conditions.
The pilot reported that the airplane did not gain enough altitude on takeoff to clear powerlines near the end of the runway. He banked the airplane to the left and made a hard landing in grass, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall, lower forward fuselage, and rudder. The takeoff was made to the north with a slight quartering tailwind on an up-sloping runway. The field elevation was approximately 755 feet, with an outside temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point of 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 30.07 inches of Mercury resulting in a density altitude of approximately 2,778 feet. The airplane was powered by a 65 horsepower engine and the pilot calculated the gross weight of the airplane to be near the maximum gross weight.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CEN11CA486. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N9040W.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's decision to takeoff with a tailwind in high density altitude conditions.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot reported that the airplane did not gain enough altitude on takeoff to clear powerlines near the end of the runway. He banked the airplane to the left and made a hard landing in grass, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall, lower forward fuselage, and rudder. The takeoff was made to the north with a slight quartering tailwind on an up-sloping runway. The field elevation was approximately 755 feet, with an outside temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point of 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 30.07 inches of Mercury resulting in a density altitude of approximately 2,778 feet. The airplane was powered by a 65 horsepower engine and the pilot calculated the gross weight of the airplane to be near the maximum gross weight. The pilot reported there were no mechanical failures/malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN11CA486