Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point and the delayed go-around.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
When the pilot applied power 'rapidly' to go around after a 'long' touchdown on the 2,300 foot grass strip, the engine 'hesitated'. After becoming airborne, the pilot turned left to avoid hitting trees at the end of the runway. The airplane then struck a fence and impacted the ground. Examination of the propeller by an FAA inspector revealed signatures indicating the engine was operating at a high power setting during impact.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 23, 1995, at 1000 central daylight time, a Bellanca 17-31ATC, N500BT, collided with a fence during an aborted landing near Hico, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot/operator and one passenger were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed Conroe, Texas, at 0850 for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported his touchdown on the 2,300 foot grass strip "was long so I elected to go around," and "upon rapid application of power, engine hesitated." During a telephone interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated "the aircraft did not accelerate properly" and became airborne with the "stall warning horn going off." The pilot further stated he then turned left to "avoid trees" at the end of the runway and, subsequently, the airplane impacted a fence. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and reported the outboard section of the left wing was severed, the right wing spar was cracked, and the fuselage was deformed. All three propeller blades were bent toward the cambered side approximately 90 degrees and displayed chordwise scratching and gouging. -