What happened
Shortly after initiating the takeoff roll, the aircraft climbed through approximately 100 feet above the ground when the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot was forced to execute an emergency landing at the departure end of the runway. Upon touchdown, the aircraft continued its momentum across a grassy area and entered a field of mature corn before coming to a complete stop.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed significant contamination within the fuel system. Inspectors identified the presence of water, debris, and a rust-like particulate matter. To determine if the engine itself was mechanically sound, technicians tested the engine using clean fuel. The test confirmed that the engine ran up normally when supplied with uncontaminated fuel, indicating that the mechanical components were functional.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the incident was fuel system contamination. The presence of water and particulate matter disrupted normal engine operation during the critical climb phase. The fact that the engine performed correctly with clean fuel isolates the issue to the fuel supply rather than internal engine failure.