What happened
The pilot and three passengers attempted a takeoff from an 1800-foot sod runway characterized by tall, wet grass and an upsloping surface. The density altitude at the time was recorded at 2700 feet. As the aircraft climbed out of ground effect, the pilot reported that the engine sounded unusual and immediately aborted the takeoff. The aircraft ran off the departure end of the runway, struck a tree, and the nose gear collapsed.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the aircraft following the incident. Examination revealed that the nose gear collapsed after impacting a tree during the overrun. The source text does not provide further details on specific mechanical failures or component inspections beyond the initial observation of the engine sound.
Findings
Contributing factors included the runway conditions and the engine anomaly. The pilot's decision to abort the takeoff was made after the aircraft had already climbed out of ground effect, which limited available stopping distance on the sod surface. The engine sounded 'funny' prior to the abort, suggesting a potential mechanical issue that may have contributed to the inability to maintain normal performance or control during the critical phase of flight.
Safety message
Pilots operating from short, sod runways with upsloping surfaces and tall grass should be aware of the reduced acceleration and increased stopping distance requirements. Aborting a takeoff after leaving ground effect may not provide sufficient runway remaining to stop safely, especially if an engine anomaly is present.