Incident Description
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft experienced an intermittent loss of engine power. The pilot reported that the aircraft subsequently settled and bounced on a paved road located at the end of the runway. Shortly thereafter, engine power returned, and the aircraft began to climb. However, at an altitude of approximately 60 to 70 feet above ground level, power was lost again.
During the ensuing landing, the left wing struck a tree with a diameter of about 3 inches. Following the impact, the aircraft yawed to the left, and the right wing along with the right main landing gear made contact with the ground.
Engine Examination
After the incident, an engine run-up was conducted, which verified the intermittent operation. A partial disassembly of the engine was performed, but no cause for the power loss was identified. When the engine was reassembled, it operated normally during subsequent testing.