Narrative:

The event occurred during my first solo. My instructor had told me to do three takeoffs and landings; the first one to a full stop and the second one an optional touch-and-go. I had already done the first landing and just completed the second one. I prepared to takeoff (raised flaps and reconfigured) immediately again for a touch-and-go when I lost control and the plane steered in a sharp turn on the ground to the left side.at that time I had almost reached rotation airspeed. I can't recollect at which specific step the sudden turn occurred; but after my instructor asked me; it could have happened while I looked down at the trim control; I don't remember. The plane left runway xxr and crossed runway xxl; then entered the grassy peripheral area. Luckily; the plane did not tip or hit anything and I could stop it. I was not hurt myself either. I was allowed to taxi it back to the parking area after the airport staff and FBO didn't find any apparent damage. My understanding after the plane was inspected by the mechanics is that the following things were found: the rudder cables were found to have low tension. It was within specifications; but caused reduced effectiveness. The rudder trim tab was not straight in a way aggravating the left-turning tendency.my instructor and I concluded after a discussion that the rudder trim and the trim tab made the plane harder to operate for a student and that a touch-and-go is too much workload on a first solo flight. Removing either one of these factors probably would have avoided the situation.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Student pilot on first solo in C-172 has runway excursion while attempting touch and go. Aircraft examination later reveals loose; but within specifications; rudder cables.

Narrative: The event occurred during my first solo. My instructor had told me to do three takeoffs and landings; the first one to a full stop and the second one an optional touch-and-go. I had already done the first landing and just completed the second one. I prepared to takeoff (raised flaps and reconfigured) immediately again for a touch-and-go when I lost control and the plane steered in a sharp turn on the ground to the left side.At that time I had almost reached rotation airspeed. I can't recollect at which specific step the sudden turn occurred; but after my instructor asked me; it could have happened while I looked down at the trim control; I don't remember. The plane left Runway XXR and crossed Runway XXL; then entered the grassy peripheral area. Luckily; the plane did not tip or hit anything and I could stop it. I was not hurt myself either. I was allowed to taxi it back to the parking area after the airport staff and FBO didn't find any apparent damage. My understanding after the plane was inspected by the mechanics is that the following things were found: The rudder cables were found to have low tension. It was within specifications; but caused reduced effectiveness. The rudder trim tab was not straight in a way aggravating the left-turning tendency.My instructor and I concluded after a discussion that the rudder trim and the trim tab made the plane harder to operate for a student and that a touch-and-go is too much workload on a first solo flight. Removing either one of these factors probably would have avoided the situation.

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.