SA227 pilot reports loosing control of his aircraft as the brakes are released to commence the takeo...

Attributes
ACN	944304
Time
Date	201104
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	SA-227 AC Metro III
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	Vectors Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Nose Gear Wheel
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 140 Flight Crew Total 1925 Flight Crew Type 35
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Ground Excursion Runway Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control

Narrative:

I received my takeoff clearance from tower and taxied out onto the runway. The visibility was 3 miles with light rain and the winds were only about 7 KTS. I had just flown in to pick up more freight so while I was taxing onto the runway; I was thinking about my previous takeoff. When I departed; the aircraft pulled to the right; which is not uncommon due to the free castering nose wheel. I lined up on the runway ran through my flow; and decided to hold the brakes longer to try and prevent the plane from pulling right. As I put the power levers up; I glanced down at the torques and they were coming up even; so I let off the brakes to start the roll. As soon as I let go of the brakes; the aircraft immediately took a sharp right turn. This is where I made my mistake because I tried to get the plane straight instead of pulling the power and stopping. It was this three to four second hesitation to stop or continue which I am positive would have made the difference of going off or staying on the runway. I ended up with the nose wheel and the right main stuck in the mud off the right side of the runway; only about 40 ft down the runway from where I started. If this ever happens to me again; I will not hesitate to get the plane stopped first; then figure out how to get it straight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SA227 pilot reports loosing control of his aircraft as the brakes are released to commence the takeoff roll with full power set. The aircraft turns sharply to the right; but the power is not retarded quickly enough to prevent the aircraft from departing the runway.

Narrative: I received my takeoff clearance from Tower and taxied out onto the runway. The visibility was 3 miles with light rain and the winds were only about 7 KTS. I had just flown in to pick up more freight so while I was taxing onto the runway; I was thinking about my previous takeoff. When I departed; the aircraft pulled to the right; which is not uncommon due to the free castering nose wheel. I lined up on the runway ran through my flow; and decided to hold the brakes longer to try and prevent the plane from pulling right. As I put the power levers up; I glanced down at the torques and they were coming up even; so I let off the brakes to start the roll. As soon as I let go of the brakes; the aircraft immediately took a sharp right turn. This is where I made my mistake because I tried to get the plane straight instead of pulling the power and stopping. It was this three to four second hesitation to stop or continue which I am positive would have made the difference of going off or staying on the runway. I ended up with the nose wheel and the right main stuck in the mud off the right side of the runway; only about 40 FT down the runway from where I started. If this ever happens to me again; I will not hesitate to get the plane stopped first; then figure out how to get it straight.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.