What happened
On Friday, March 15, 2002, a Piper PA 28 R 201 Arrow, registration F-ODSM, was preparing for a flight from AD Camopi. After taxiing approximately 600 meters to the threshold of runway 10, the pilot elected to perform the takeoff without flaps. After applying full power while holding the brakes, the pilot released the brakes to begin the takeoff roll.
After accelerating for 700 meters, the aircraft reached an indicated airspeed of 60 knots, which was below the planned rotation speed of 65 knots. As the pilot attempted to rotate, the nose gear lifted, but the aircraft failed to become airborne, triggering the stall warning. The pilot immediately aborted the takeoff, moving the mixture control to the idle-cut-off position and applying the brakes. However, due to the muddy condition of the runway, the aircraft continued to slide without decelerating. While attempting to execute a U-turn, the aircraft slid sideways while maintaining a straight path, eventually exiting the end of the runway and coming to a stop in the surrounding vegetation. The propeller blade and nose wheel sustained damage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's configuration and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The aircraft was found to be within its weight and balance limits. At the time of the incident, the mixture was at idle-cut-off, the propeller pitch was at full coarse, and the power lever was at full throttle. The flaps were retracted and the pitch trim was in the neutral position.
Environmental analysis revealed that a thunderstorm had occurred in the region one hour prior to the takeoff attempt, leaving the unpaved, laterite/grassy runway wet and partially muddy. While an Air Force technical assessment described the runway as having good load-bearing capacity, it also noted a high sensitivity to precipitation.
Review of the aircraft's flight manual showed that for the specific configuration used (no flaps) and the prevailing conditions, the required takeoff distance was 760 meters. However, the manual specified that for "soft" terrain, the pilot should have used 25 degrees of flaps, which would have reduced the required takeoff distance to 580 meters and the rotation speed to 60 knots.