Accident Sequence
The pilot was practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. During the last takeoff, at approximately 900 feet above ground level, the engine sputtered and then lost power, causing the airplane's nose to drop. Ground witnesses observed the airplane climbing at a high angle of attack when the engine began to sputter. Subsequently, the left wing abruptly rotated around the airplane's longitudinal axis, and the nose pitched down to a near-vertical attitude. The airplane then impacted the ground in a left spin.
Aircraft Examination
Post-impact examination revealed that the propeller separated at impact. The damage to the propeller blades was indicative of the engine producing power at the moment of impact. Further examination of the engine showed that it was capable of producing power. The airplane is equipped with a gravity-fed fuel system.
Instructor Statement
A Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) who instructs in the 7ECA model stated that it is possible to sustain a momentary loss of power during a climb if the pilot abruptly pushes the stick forward, creating a zero to one negative G condition. According to the CFI, the engine would restart when positive G loading resumed.