Incident Overview
The pilot of an airplane reported that during his fourth takeoff, the aircraft "quit flying, bounced across meridian between runway and taxiway, slid across the taxiway and stopped." According to the pilot, observers and witnesses told him that the airplane's engine backfired and sounded like it throttled back and then forward again.
FAA Investigation
An FAA inspector responded to the scene but found no witnesses who gave a report similar to the pilot's impression. The inspector noted that the pilot stated he lost directional control at lift-off, veered off the left side of the runway, and collided with the taxiway.
Aircraft Damage
The accident resulted in damage to the propeller, nose gear, nose cowling, lower engine mount, and firewall.
Pilot and Maintenance Records
The pilot did not report his flight time in the 90-day period prior to the accident. Review of the aircraft maintenance records disclosed that the aircraft had flown only 7 hours since August 1994.
Post-Accident Examination
After the accident, an airframe and powerplant mechanic examined the airplane. The mechanic did not find any discrepancy in the airframe or the engine.