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Takeoff from grass strip was aborted due to poor aircraft performance. Aircraft landed in adjacent field incurring minor damage.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 312170 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199507 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : pa40 |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 50 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : takeoff |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : commercial |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 800 flight time type : 250 |
| ASRS Report | 312170 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other anomaly other other spatial deviation |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : rejected takeoff other |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation |
Narrative:
Takeoff from grass strip (2200 ft, I use often). Warm (28 degrees) humid day but our pilot operations handbook has density altitude performance graph -- our hard surface roll was approximately 1050 ft, so greater than 100 percent buffer for grass. 150 pounds under maximum gross weight, middle of center of gravity envelope. Acceleration was sluggish, (soft field technique used) climbing out of ground effect felt unstable, wobbly! Decided to abort as wire/pole exist about 1/2 mi from departure end. Landed gear down in adjacent field with minimal aircraft damage. Several 'old-time' local pilots suggested I not use 'soft field' technique there, the field is relatively firm and grass was approximately 5 inches. They suggested short field technique. I never heard this, was always taught to use 'soft' field in grass. Am going to investigate these 2 techniques for takeoff at this field. For now will raise my margins for all parameters (weight, takeoff roll, etc).
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: TKOF FROM GRASS STRIP WAS ABORTED DUE TO POOR ACFT PERFORMANCE. ACFT LANDED IN ADJACENT FIELD INCURRING MINOR DAMAGE.
Narrative: TKOF FROM GRASS STRIP (2200 FT, I USE OFTEN). WARM (28 DEGS) HUMID DAY BUT OUR PLT OPS HANDBOOK HAS DENSITY ALT PERFORMANCE GRAPH -- OUR HARD SURFACE ROLL WAS APPROX 1050 FT, SO GREATER THAN 100 PERCENT BUFFER FOR GRASS. 150 LBS UNDER MAX GROSS WT, MIDDLE OF CTR OF GRAVITY ENVELOPE. ACCELERATION WAS SLUGGISH, (SOFT FIELD TECHNIQUE USED) CLBING OUT OF GND EFFECT FELT UNSTABLE, WOBBLY! DECIDED TO ABORT AS WIRE/POLE EXIST ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM DEP END. LANDED GEAR DOWN IN ADJACENT FIELD WITH MINIMAL ACFT DAMAGE. SEVERAL 'OLD-TIME' LCL PLTS SUGGESTED I NOT USE 'SOFT FIELD' TECHNIQUE THERE, THE FIELD IS RELATIVELY FIRM AND GRASS WAS APPROX 5 INCHES. THEY SUGGESTED SHORT FIELD TECHNIQUE. I NEVER HEARD THIS, WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT TO USE 'SOFT' FIELD IN GRASS. AM GOING TO INVESTIGATE THESE 2 TECHNIQUES FOR TKOF AT THIS FIELD. FOR NOW WILL RAISE MY MARGINS FOR ALL PARAMETERS (WT, TKOF ROLL, ETC).
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.