Summary
The aircraft was taking off into the south, from a one-way agricultural strip situated along the spine of a
mountain ridge. The length of the strip was 1,420 feet. The surface of the strip was generally good but
over the last 200 feet at the southern end a number of flat boulders protruded up to 3 inches above the soil
and there was a transverse downslope of about 9 degrees to the left. Twenty-six take-offs had begn made from the
strip at slightly below the maximum take-off weight for the aircraft type. On the twenty-seventh take-off,
the aircraft lifted off normally then sank and touched the ground in the area which contained the boulders.
The pilot heard a loud 'crack'. He continued with the flight and after spreading the fertiliser established
at the left main landing assembly had broken away from the aircraft. He then flew to Archerfield and landed
on a prepared grass surface. As the speed decayed the left lower wing-tip and the propeller contacted the
ground. The aircraft skidded 87 feet and swung to the left. The tail rose and the aircraft came to rest
balanced on the propeller, the right wing-tips and the right main wheel.
Subsequent examination of the failed leg showed that fatigue cracks had initiated at fretting damage in the
decarburised skin. A number of cracks propagated and joined to form a single crack 1 1/8 inches long by
approximately 0. 050 inches deep. It is considered likely that cracks up to 0.050 inches deep were present
when the 5,000 landing inspection was carried out on the leg some 150 landings prior to the accident.
