Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper aircraft handling during the aborted takeoff.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that the aircraft started to porpoise on takeoff, so he aborted the takeoff. He noted that he cut the power completely when the aircraft was four to five feet off the runway, and it came down nose first, blowing the nose tire, collapsing the nose landing gear, and sliding off the side of the runway.
Source record
Factual narrative
On February 16, 1994, at 1346 mountain standard time, N756YH, a Cessna TU206, sustained substantial damage when the pilot aborted a takeoff at Salt Lake Municipal Airport 2, Salt Lake City, Utah. The private pilot and his two passengers were uninjured. There was no flight plan filed for the local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The ELT was reported to have actuated. The pilot stated that the aircraft started to porpoise on takeoff, so he aborted the takeoff about 4 to 5 feet above the runway. He said the nose came down first, blew the tire, and collapsed the nose landing gear. The aircraft slid off the side of runway 16, hit a couple runway lights, and hit a snow bank, causing substantial structural damage to the fuselage. -