Incident
During the takeoff climb, the engine experienced a loss of power when the aircraft reached about 700 feet above ground level. The pilot initiated a forced landing in a pasture. The terrain of the pasture was hilly and included a gully that ran through it. As the aircraft touched down, it first struck the top of a small hill within the pasture. After this initial contact, the aircraft became airborne for a short distance before impacting the ground with significant force. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident, with the official cause of death determined to be cervical dislocation.
Investigation
An examination was conducted on the engine, its components, and the fuel system to identify the reason for the power loss. The examination, however, did not uncover any definitive cause for the loss of power. Following the examination, the engine was installed in a test cell where it was operated under normal conditions. The operational check revealed that the engine performed normally and without any anomalies.