NTSB Factual Report

On August 18, 2003, at 0915 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N8016A, sustained substantial damage when the left main landing gear collapsed following a loss of control during the takeoff roll from a remote site approximately 20 miles southeast of Sparrevohn, Alaska. The commercial pilot and the passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross country flight was originating at the time of the accident with an intended destination of Port Alsworth, Alaska.

According to the pilot, the takeoff area was 2,100 feet long, oriented east/west, and consisted of "firm tundra with some rougher areas near the mid point." Additionally, the takeoff area had a dogleg requiring "a right hand directional correction of about 15 feet" near the midpoint. The pilot reported that he planned to takeoff heading east, and the wind was from the south at 5 to 7 mph. He further reported that the airplane accelerated normally, and as it neared the midpoint of the takeoff area, it "wanted to drift to the left." The pilot added right rudder to make the dogleg turn and to counteract the drift. At this point, the pilot heard a loud "pop" from the fuselage and aborted the takeoff. The left main landing gear separated from the fuselage, and the airplane slid approximately 100 feet and came to a stop. According to the pilot, the landing gear bulkhead structure, the left aileron, and the outboard 2 feet of the left wing were damaged. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by the "use of more right aileron and less rudder to correct for right-hand crosswind."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind, which resulted in collapse of the left main landing gear during the takeoff roll. A factor was the crosswind.