N9040WHamlin John D CH701 · 2001

The pilot reported that the airplane did not gain enough altitude on takeoff to clear powerlines near the end of the runway. He banked the airplane to the left and made a hard landing in grass, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall, lower forward fuselage, and rudder. The takeoff was made to the north with a slight quartering tailwind on an up-sloping runway. The field elevation was approximately 755 feet, with an outside temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point of 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 30.07 inches of Mercury resulting in a density altitude of approximately 2,778 feet. The airplane was powered by a 65 horsepower engine and the pilot calculated the gross weight of the airplane to be near the maximum gross weight. The pilot reported there were no mechanical failures/malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.