Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 28000; Flight Crew Type 2500
Other / Unknown
Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Weather; Human Factors; Aircraft
This was a ferry flight in a 767 with the winglets. Weather VMC and direct crosswind of 15 knots. Some discussion with load planning on taxi out as they seemed to be unfamiliar with planning numbers for a ferry flight. Trim was 1.8 which is quite a bit further forward than normal. Normal start of takeoff roll with a slight input forward stick and slight aileron into the wind. Speeds were 118 124 136 for very light weight. First Officer called V1 and at this time the aircraft lifted itself into the air without any input from me and well below rotate speed. Started pushing forward on yoke to lower nose and aircraft began to drift/skid toward the downwind side of the runway. Would not climb; controls extremely mushy and as I pushed the nose further down it settled back on the mains back on the runway. Speed began to build and gently flew plane off the runway with still nose down elevator input. Remainder of climb uneventful and upon leveling off; trim setting on autopilot was in the 3.5 to 4.0 range. Sent a request to inspect aircraft and cargo holds upon arrival. They said all cargo bays were empty. As I looked around the aircraft I noticed that the nose strut was fully extended and the aircraft was slightly tipped toward the rear. This after a normal landing with autobrakes 2 and a fairly rapid deceleration. In my entire career this is the closest I have ever come to loosing control of an aircraft which could have resulted in destroying the aircraft. I just barely saved this one.
B767 Captain experiences an early lift off on a ferry flight as the First Officer is calling V1. The aircraft touches down again before finally becoming airborne and continuing to destination.