PA23 pilot realized the left propeller struck the runway during the takeoff from eyq.

Attributes
ACN	594486
Time
Date	200309
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : eyq.airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-23 Apache (& Geronimo Apache)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff climbout : initial ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 360 flight time type : 25
ASRS Report	594486
Events
Anomaly	ground encounters other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

On takeoff, the aircraft seemed to float between 65 and 70 KTS, as if to take off prior to rotation speed. The act then (torqued) left and I worked to manage the aircraft into a positive rate of climb, then lifting the landing gear, for departure. The aircraft, obviously, seemed to act unusual, but once airborne the performance seemed ok, yet slow. I checked all instruments, and everything was ok. I considered immediately returning to eyq, but decided to proceed to runway 11R at brenham, tx. The aircraft did seem to lack energy while at cruise altitude. Once I approached runway 11R, I asked unicom to check my landing gear to assure all wheels were down. I had 2 lights not working and based on the erratic takeoff, all was well. On passing down centerline, all was reported well. I then stayed in the pattern and landed safely. On the ground, the left propeller was equally 'Q-tipped' on each end from the departure at weiser (eyq). Some paint was removed from the left lower cowling and apparently there was some dragging on the rear tiedown from departure. I genuinely feel this aircraft is unsafe and believe the landing gear failed on takeoff.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA23 PLT REALIZED THE L PROP STRUCK THE RWY DURING THE TKOF FROM EYQ.

Narrative: ON TKOF, THE ACFT SEEMED TO FLOAT BTWN 65 AND 70 KTS, AS IF TO TAKE OFF PRIOR TO ROTATION SPD. THE ACT THEN (TORQUED) L AND I WORKED TO MANAGE THE ACFT INTO A POSITIVE RATE OF CLB, THEN LIFTING THE LNDG GEAR, FOR DEP. THE ACFT, OBVIOUSLY, SEEMED TO ACT UNUSUAL, BUT ONCE AIRBORNE THE PERFORMANCE SEEMED OK, YET SLOW. I CHKED ALL INSTS, AND EVERYTHING WAS OK. I CONSIDERED IMMEDIATELY RETURNING TO EYQ, BUT DECIDED TO PROCEED TO RWY 11R AT BRENHAM, TX. THE ACFT DID SEEM TO LACK ENERGY WHILE AT CRUISE ALT. ONCE I APCHED RWY 11R, I ASKED UNICOM TO CHK MY LNDG GEAR TO ASSURE ALL WHEELS WERE DOWN. I HAD 2 LIGHTS NOT WORKING AND BASED ON THE ERRATIC TKOF, ALL WAS WELL. ON PASSING DOWN CTRLINE, ALL WAS RPTED WELL. I THEN STAYED IN THE PATTERN AND LANDED SAFELY. ON THE GND, THE L PROP WAS EQUALLY 'Q-TIPPED' ON EACH END FROM THE DEP AT WEISER (EYQ). SOME PAINT WAS REMOVED FROM THE L LOWER COWLING AND APPARENTLY THERE WAS SOME DRAGGING ON THE REAR TIEDOWN FROM DEP. I GENUINELY FEEL THIS ACFT IS UNSAFE AND BELIEVE THE LNDG GEAR FAILED ON TKOF.

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.