Primary finding
Probable cause
The mechanical binding of the yoke after liftoff.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot said that during departure from a 3,000 feet runway with a lake at the end of the it, upon reaching liftoff airspeed, the yoke would not come back when he pulled on it. The main wheels then raised off the runway and the pilot elected to continue as there was not enough runway remaining to abort the takeoff. The pilot stated, the airplane flew over the lake, skipping on the surface several times, and impacted onto the opposite shoreline. The FAA inspector and a mechanic confirmed control continuity. The airplane's cockpit panel had received extensive damage and evidence of binding could not be determined. An examination of the airplane's logbook revealed that the yoke assembly had been switched several times over the past few years.
Source record
Factual narrative
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