Accident Summary
A pilot reported that during the initial climb after taking off from a wet grass runway, he believed the airplane would not clear trees located at the end of the runway. He aborted the takeoff by pushing the nose down and reducing power to idle. The airplane then touched down hard in a nose-low attitude, causing the nose gear to collapse and a propeller strike on the runway.
Damage
The firewall and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Weight and Balance
The National Transportation Safety Board investigator requested weight and balance calculations for the accident flight. The pilot could not produce a copy of the actual weight and balance but provided weights for occupants and fuel. According to the information provided, the estimated airplane weight and balance should have been within manufacturer's limitations.
Aircraft Performance
According to the manufacturer's takeoff performance planning charts, the estimated ground roll was 1,138 feet and the distance to clear a 50-foot obstacle was 1,680 feet. The runway used was 3,000 feet in length with trees at the end. The manufacturer's charts did not provide information for departures on wet grass surfaces.
FAA Guidance
The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook states: "Soft surfaces or long, wet grass usually reduces the airplane's acceleration during the takeoff roll so much that adequate takeoff speed might not be attained if normal takeoff techniques were employed." It is likely that the wet grass increased the ground roll distance, which influenced the pilot's decision to abort the takeoff.