Accident Overview
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft experienced a complete loss of engine power. The subsequent impact sequence and post-crash fire resulted in the aircraft being demolished.
Modifications to the Aircraft
According to several interviewees, the pilot had carried out extensive modifications to the aircraft that were not covered by Supplemental Type Certificates (STC). These modifications included alterations to the fuel system.
Fuel System Components
The modifications incorporated an "automotive performance computer" that required a fuel flow transducer. The manufacturer of this computer stated that the transducer would not function correctly on a gravity-fed fuel system.
A fuel pump recovered from the wreckage was identified as a fuel transfer dump pump. This pump was designed to reduce its output flow to zero when the output line pressure reached its maximum of 4.5 psi.
Effect on Fuel Delivery
The combination of the fuel flow transducer and the fuel transfer pump would have reduced the fuel output flow to a trickle, severely restricting fuel delivery to the engine.