ERA10CA368

The pilot reported that during takeoff the airplane began to slow down. He leveled the wings to maintain speed, but it continued to decrease. Shortly thereafter, the pilot noticed a slight crosswind, but did not correct too aggressively in an effort to avoid hitting the right wing tip on the runway. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff and the airplane touched down in the grass adjacent to the runway. The airplane continued into a dry pond, incurring substantial damage to the left wing. The weight and balance and performance calculations for the airplane revealed that at takeoff the airplane was near the maximum gross weight with a slightly forward center of gravity. Weather recorded at the airport about the time of the accident indicated that there was a 5-knot crosswind. The pilot reported no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

The pilot reported that during takeoff from runway 7, about 5 feet above the ground, the airplane began to “slow down.” He leveled the wings “to maintain speed, but it continued to bleed off.” About that time, the pilot noticed “a slight crosswind from the south, (but)… did not correct too aggressively” to avoid hitting the right wingtip on the runway. The pilot stated that he decided to abort the takeoff but allowed the airplane to continue to drift over the runway lighting. The airplane touched down in the grass left of the runway and continued into a “dry pond,” incurring substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot and four passengers sustained no injuries. Weight and balance and performance calculations for the airplane on the day of the accident,found the airplane to be near maximum gross weight and slightly forward of the center of gravity limitations at startup based on the information provided by the pilot. Weather, recorded at the airport about the time of the accident, included winds from 160 degrees true at 5 knots, and a temperature of 29 degrees Celsius. The pilot reported no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane.