Accident Details
A pilot departed on a local test flight. The outside temperature was 96 degrees Fahrenheit, and the pilot believed the airplane had not been flown in the preceding six months. During the initial climb, at an altitude of about 75 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted an emergency descent but lost control of the airplane.
Witness Observations
A witness observed the airplane descending in a nose-down, left-wing-down attitude before it crashed.
Investigation Findings
An FAA inspector examined the wreckage and reported that fuel was found in the fuel strainer but not in the carburetor. The fuel line was not blocked. The airplane had been serviced with automobile fuel and had been exposed to direct sunlight for several hours before the flight. The FAA inspector thought the power loss might have been due to a vapor lock, but this was not verified.