SEA88LA106

Factual narrative

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS FOR THE PILOT TO PRACTICE FOR HIS AERIAL APPLICATORS CERTIFICATE. WATER WAS BEING USED INSTEAD OF CHEMICAL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ACCELERATE DURING TAKEOFF IT BEGAN TO OSCILLATE. AS IN PRIOR OCCURRENCES, THE PILOT REDUCED POWER. AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED THE OSCILLATIONS BEGAN TO WORSEN ANDTHE PILOT STARTED A TURN TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN AN UNCOMMANDED TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DUMP THE LOAD, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND. THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A SMALL TREE AND THE TAILBOOM STRUCK A METAL FENCE POST. THE AIRCRAFT WAS VERY NEAR MAX GROSS WEIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT GROUND SPEED WAS 0-5 MPH. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12