Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 16500; Flight Crew Type 150
Confusion; Time Pressure; Distraction
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Incursion Runway
Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Aircraft; Procedure
No conflicts with other aircraft that I know of; I did a very careful pre-flight and run-up following every letter on these checklists. The aircraft just came out of paint. All surfaces were removed by the paint shop and I found out later that settings to the pitch system were compromised prior to re-installation. On takeoff when the aircraft lifted in the air; full nose down command was required; I was hitting the stops on down elevator. I reduced the power and landed straight ahead on the remaining runway.  I taxied clear of the runway and went back to the paint shop. The next day fixtures were brought out to the paint shop and it was found the trim jackscrew and the rod end for the trim tab were way out of adjustment.
Piper Cherokee pilot reported difficulty with aircraft pitch control immediately after takeoff due to an improper rigging of the pitch trim system. Pilot reduced power and and landed safely on the remaining runway surface.