Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 3; Flight Crew Total 130; Flight Crew Type 3
Distraction; Training / Qualification; Workload
Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Weather; Human Factors
The aircraft had just received its annual inspection where it was reported that the loose nose wheel drag link had been shimmed. After preflight inspection a copilot and I were to fly to a nearby airport for lunch. I was the pilot in command; my copilot was to operate the radios in Class C airspace. Every aspect of the flight into our destination was normal and the aircraft handled well. After lunch we prepared to return to our home base. The wind was reported 7 KTS at 270 with gust of 14. Once cleared for 18; I began my roll down the runway with wind correction and at 60 I started to rotate. At this stage the aircraft violently pulled to the left; the aircraft became airborne; wing level in a high-pitched attitude and a direction 45 degrees left of the runway. Knowing my aircraft had just been worked on; my perception at that moment was I had lost control of both the nose wheel and rudder and an aggressive correction to the right may not be possible or safe. The aircraft was aligned with Taxiway P; there was no traffic anywhere to be seen; and I decided to abort the takeoff and land on the taxiway. The Tower was contacted; we declared we had a mishap and wanted to return to the FBO. At the FBO I telephoned the Tower to explain what had happened. We could not find any obvious fault with the controls on the ground but decided it would be better to hangar the aircraft. The next day I returned to the airport with a mechanic familiar with my aircraft and a CFI who also was familiar with me in my aircraft. Once the mechanic was satisfied the aircraft was fit to fly I returned to my home base with the CFI and demonstrated an additional two crosswind takeoff and landings. I believe a gust of wind turned the aircraft. With the nose high; the wheel steering in a 172 becomes disengaged and the relatively low airspeed made the rudder less effective. The aggressive turn and lack of response of the rudder or nose wheel to peddle lead me to believe there was a fault.
A C172 pilot made a precautionary return to land suspecting a malfunction after the aircraft abruptly turned 45 degrees during rotation. He later realized a strong gust has caused the turn.