Accident Details
A certificated private pilot was departing a private 2,000-foot-long grass airstrip. Before departure, the pilot selected the left fuel tank. During the initial climb, the engine suddenly quit about 100 feet in the air. The pilot selected an emergency landing area, and the airplane collided with several trees during the landing.
The pilot indicated that the remanufactured engine he installed had accrued 25 hours. The airplane had been rebuilt by the pilot, who was not a certificated airframe or powerplant mechanic. The pilot did not possess any airworthiness documentation for the airplane.
Postaccident Findings
A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a kink in the fuel line from the left fuel tank. The fuel line from the fuel strainer to the carburetor was 1/4 inch in diameter, whereas the standard size is 3/8 inch. Additionally, the fuel caps on each tank were required to have a 3/8 inch vent line, but the installed caps had a 1/4 inch vent.