Accident Overview
The pilot leaned the engine before takeoff. As the aircraft reached approximately 50 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot switched fuel tanks, enriched the mixture, pumped the throttle, and attempted to restart the engine. The engine briefly started but ran for only a few seconds before quitting again. After a second unsuccessful restart attempt, the pilot executed a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane struck a log and sustained damage.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported that he might have induced the problem by over-leaning the engine. He also noted that he could have restricted fuel flow when inadvertently moving the fuel selector beyond the tank detent. No other pilot actions were specified in the source.
Additional Findings
The aircraft was fueled with a mixture of aviation fuel and automobile gasoline (auto gas), but it did not have a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) authorizing the use of auto gas. Additionally, the aircraft had not undergone an annual inspection within the previous 12 months, and the pilot's medical certificate had expired. These conditions were noted in the source but were not explicitly linked to the power loss.