Narrative
During the initial climb, the private pilot reported that the engine quit. With half the runway remaining, the pilot executed a forced landing from an altitude of 100 feet above ground level. The pilot had retracted the landing gear after takeoff but attempted to lower it for the landing. The aircraft touched down with the landing gear still in transit, causing the airplane to slide to the right side and come to rest off the end and to the right of the runway. The right wing spar sustained damage.
Investigation
Postaccident examination showed that the gascolator and engine fuel system contained only traces of fuel. The left fuel tank held 12 gallons, and the right tank contained 5 gallons. The pilot had selected the left tank for takeoff but switched to the right tank after the engine quit. A subsequent engine run conducted under controlled conditions was normal and provided no evidence to explain the apparent fuel interruption.
FAA Tests
Field tests conducted by the FAA indicated that with 12 gallons of fuel, the normal nose-up attitude during takeoff could have unported the fuel supply. These tests were performed under field conditions.