Accident Sequence
The pilot stated that the takeoff roll was very short. Immediately after liftoff, the power on the left engine surged. Believing an engine failure had occurred, the pilot applied full right rudder. The left engine power then increased. A witness observed the aircraft become airborne about 500 feet after beginning the takeoff roll. The airplane assumed a high angle of attack and initiated a left turn with approximately a 30-degree bank angle. The pitch attitude continued to increase, and the airplane rolled further left, eventually colliding with the ground and a hangar.
Examination Findings
Post-accident examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assemblies, and accessories found no evidence of a precrash failure or malfunction. However, disassembly of the left engine gascolator revealed contamination in the bowl, including dirt, debris, and water. Disassembly of the left engine carburetor showed that the bowl assembly was dry, and a residue consisting of dirt and reddish-colored debris was present along the sidewalls of the bowl assembly.