Accident Overview
An aircraft collided with terrain during a forced landing after experiencing a loss of power during takeoff. The accident occurred when the aircraft could not maintain flight and was forced to land in the surrounding terrain.
Previous Incident
Two days prior to the accident, the same aircraft experienced a virtually identical loss of power during a test flight. On that occasion, the pilot had sufficient altitude to execute a 180-degree turn and land back on the runway. Following the test flight, HEET (dry ice) was added to each fuel tank.
Investigation Findings
Analysis of the liquid drained from the aircraft after the accident revealed a mixture of water and methanol. Methanol is the main ingredient of HEET, the fuel additive that was added after the previous power loss incident.
Engine and Carburetor Tests
The aircraft's engine and carburetor were tested following the accident and operated normally. No mechanical issues were found that could account for the power loss.