SR20
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 905; Flight Crew Type 20
Training / Qualification; Workload; Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Human Factors; Procedure; Weather; Aircraft
This was a training flight. Occupants included student in left seat and instructor in right seat. ATIS reporting winds 300 degrees at 8 knots; SKC; visibility greater than 10 miles. Student confidently performed all preflight; taxi; and run up procedures. After run up; advised complete and cleared to hold short of the runway and monitor Tower. Takeoff clearance was north turnout approved cleared for takeoff. No additional wind direction or speed was given in the clearance. Student lined up appropriately and commenced takeoff roll. Once rolling; the plane veered towards the left of the runway while student continued the takeoff. As speed continued to increase; the student was unsuccessful in aligning the plane with the centerline and began to prematurely rotate in what appeared to be a moment of panic. With an excursion inevitable; instructor called 'abort my controls' retarded power and struggled to regain control. The aircraft may have momentarily became airborne. As the aircraft settled back onto the surface; a violent porpoising action proceeded. Instructor discovered student was applying full pressure on the brakes. Instructor demanded 'off the brakes' and eventually brought the aircraft under control towards centerline. Instructor canceled flight and taxied back to the ramp without further incident. Factors leading up to this event included too much confidence placed in student's ability as he done exceptionally well leading up to the takeoff; reported a very successful flight with a previous instructor; as well as having previous aircraft type experience. Additional factors would include lack of control inputs to counter the reported direct crosswind. Typically; a direct crosswind from the left would tend to cause a right deviation of centerline. It is possible the student inadvertently or over corrected the beginning takeoff roll with differential left brake after feeling the plane go to the right and did not transition to rudder steering once airspeed increased. It is also possible the 300 degree wind direction and runway assignment seemed coincident causing a lack of correction for winds. Regardless; lesson gained for instructor is to stay on the controls with student until student demonstrates safe takeoff procedures. Additionally; instructor should identify early on a rejected takeoff scenario that leaves enough space to safely recover.
An Instructor pilot reported they had to take over the controls when a student did not compensate for a crosswind properly resulting in a momentary loss of aircraft control and a rejected takeoff.