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Where's My Flap
Handle!!!! ooops.......CRUNCH!!!!!!!!!!!
On September 1st, 2001, a float equipped Maule M-7 sustained substantial damage
during takeoff from a remote lake about 25 miles northeast of Koliganek Alaska.
The pilot stated that he was departing from Frost Lake which is about 1,500 feet
long and and that he had operated from this lake in the past. The pilot said he
taxied to the middle of the lake several times to check the wind conditions
before takeoff. The winds appeared to be from the north/northwest at about 12
knots. The pilot said he initiated one takeoff run but aborted the takeoff.
His second takeoff attempt included a step turn to the south, during which the
airplane seemed to loose a slight amount of speed. the pilot decided to lower
the flaps to assist in getting off the water and he reached for the flap
handle. The pilot said that as he reached for the flap handle, he realized that
he was reaching for the area of the airplane where the flap handle is normally
installed in his other airplane, a Piper PA-18. He was distracted by not
finding the flap handle in the accident airplane. The airplane became airborne,
but collided with the bank of the lake. The airplane was then launched upward
in a steep nose-up attitude, and the pilot said a stall was eminent. He lowered
the nose of the airplane but the airplane rolled to the left and collided with
the ground. The left float assembly, the left wing, and fuselage where damaged.
The pilot and the one passenger on board were not injured.
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