Accident Sequence
The engine was heard 'popping' and misfiring during the takeoff roll. About one minute later, while climbing through 400 to 500 feet, the pilot reported an engine failure and was cleared to land on any runway. The aircraft entered a left turn, stalled, and spun into a parking lot.
Examination Findings
An examination of the engine revealed that the engine fuel system, including the inline fuel filter, servo control, and fuel flow divider, contained dirt and corrosion contamination.
Inspection and Pilot Background
The aircraft had received an annual inspection on November 17, 1983. The engine fuel system was not inspected during that inspection. The aircraft had flown three hours since the inspection. The pilot had just purchased the aircraft and had flown one hour in it the day before the accident, which ended with a gear-up landing. The last entry in the pilot's logbook was a biennial flight review on September 17, 1981. The previous entry indicated he had 1,300 total hours. On the date of the pilot's last medical exam, April 10, 1984, the pilot indicated he had 1,400 total hours with no flight time in the previous six months.