Incident Overview
According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff while climbing through 200 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to return to the runway for a landing, but the airplane departed the left side of the runway and traversed a ditch before coming to a stop.
Investigation Findings
Investigators could find no mechanical problems that would account for the loss of engine power. The engine was later removed and run in a test cell under the observation of an FAA inspector. The test cell run produced normal performance, with the exception of a minor RPM drop attributed to damage of an ignition lead. It is presumed this damage occurred during the accident sequence.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that a crosswind was the reason the airplane went off the side of the runway during the landing attempt.
Conclusion
No probable cause for the engine failure was determined, and the pilot attributed the subsequent runway excursion to crosswind conditions.