N22QTDiamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 · 2005

The pilot was performing a takeoff in a free-castering nosewheel equipped airplane, with a left quartering crosswind. As the airplane accelerated, he utilized right rudder to maintain runway centerline. When the airplane became airborne, it drifted to the right, over the grass area adjacent to the runway. The pilot applied left aileron to counteract the right drift, and the airplane pitched nose down. As he applied back pressure on the control stick, the stall warning horn activated, and he neutralized the flight controls. The airplane subsequently yawed left, and the pilot applied right aileron and rudder control inputs to correct the yaw and continued the takeoff. Following an uneventful landing, a postflight examination of the airplane revealed both wings and the rudder had struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder. At the time of the accident, the pilot was departing runway 28R, and the wind was from 290° at 7 knots.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.