Chancellor 414A / C414
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 23; Flight Crew Total 2935; Flight Crew Type 376
Workload; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Excursion Runway
Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
I was at an unfamiliar airport at high altitude that had been having very high winds. When I landed 2 days prior; I had placed the rudder lock and yoke lock on the plane due to the winds. I had not placed these on since flying the plane for 376 hours in any prior flight. On the walk around prior to departure; the rudder lock was disengaged. I had family loading the plane under my direction. I was using an iPad attached to yoke mount on the pilots yoke for only the 3rd time. This blocked my view of the pilot yoke. The checklist was used for reference but was not called out loud but noted mentally. The yoke lock; on the pilot yoke; was not removed. The usual run up was done and particular attention was paid to density altitude due to the elevation of the departing airport and the temperature. As roll out was done to ensure enough speed for lift off; it was noted that the yoke could not be pulled back. An emergency shutdown was done. The plane was maintained straight forward; but at the end of the runway; I did not feel that the speed was slow enough to make a safe turn off onto the taxiway without risk of tipping. The plane rolled off the end of the runway for a distance of about 50 feet; striking a navaid light; knocking it off its base. There were no injuries to persons and no damage to the plane. Clearly; a verbal check off of the checklist would have helped. Also; placing the yoke lock on the co-pilot yoke would make it much more visible. Using new helps; like the iPad is helpful but the obstruction of some of the bottom of the panel must be noted in placement of the mount. All instruments could be seen but the base of the panel was obstructed from view. Extra care will need to taken when any new changes are made in the cockpit configuration.
A C414 pilot failed to remove the yoke gust lock during preflight and so rejected the takeoff when he could not rotate; then ran off the runway end but did not cause significant damage.