N4894XRockwell International S-2R · 1974

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll, the airplane began to drift to the right. He applied left rudder correction; however, the airplane continued to drift right and exited the runway. The airplane continued over a small hill and became airborne. The pilot applied full power to maintain flight, and within a short distance, realized that the airplane was in an unusual attitude. He lowered the airplane’s nose, and the airplane contacted the ground. The left main landing gear and spreader separated from the airframe and the airplane came to rest upright, perpendicular to the runway. The left wing and aileron were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

While landing at a remote snow-covered airstrip with about 350 gallons of fluid in the airplane's hopper, the pilot touched down at too great of a descent rate. The airplane bounced back into the air, and then touched down again on the packed snow surface. As the airplane began to slow and the airplane's weight began to be transferred from the wings to the landing gear, one main landing gear attach fitting, which had been damaged during the initial hard touchdown, allowed its associated gear leg to partially collapse. The partial collapse of the landing gear resulted in the airplane veering to the right, whereupon the right wing impacted the snow bank along the side of the runway.