PA-38 Tomahawk
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 33; Flight Crew Total 16422; Flight Crew Type 32
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Training / Qualification
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Excursion Runway; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
Aircraft departed ZZZ on a routine training flight for maneuvers northeast of ZZZ. After 30 minutes aircraft was flown to a nearby airport for a full stop landing. ASOS information was received. Aircraft were departing Runway 18 and a normal pattern entry was made for Runway 18 and a routine landing was made. The aircraft was taxied back to approach of Runway 18. The aircraft was then taxied on runway for takeoff. A demonstration of a soft field takeoff was to be made by the instructor with the student not flying. There was a small left cross wind component at the time. The aircraft was then accelerated down the runway with back pressure on the yoke; and keeping weight off nose gear. With an increase in airspeed a nose high attitude was noticed and lowered. The aircraft became airborne and was not accelerating. During this time the aircraft drifted slightly right over a parallel grass area. Due to aircraft not accelerating the takeoff was aborted and a soft touchdown was made approximately 10 feet to right of runway. The aircraft was taxied onto runway and then to a tie down area. An inspection of aircraft was made for any damage and none was noted. The aircraft was taxied to Runway 18 and a normal takeoff made to arrive back at home base.A prime consideration in this case was time in type. Minimal experience with T-tail low power aircraft. At slow speed where greater travel of elevator is required to raise the nose than in conventional aircraft; which has prop downwash. Power of aircraft is also a consideration where a conventional aircraft would have handled this attitude. The aircraft is very pitch sensitive at low speeds. In this case pitch attitude obscured forward view which contributed to runway excursion. In general the takeoff should have been aborted earlier.
PA-38 instructor pilot rotated to a nose high attitude which blocked elevator airflow while demonstrating the soft field takeoff procedure. After becoming airborne but not accelerating; the takeoff was rejected; but the aircraft landed off the runway's right edge in a crosswind.