Accident Overview
An investigation into an accident revealed that an engine failure shortly after takeoff was caused by an oil leak. The pilot performed a forced landing onto the roof of a supermarket.
Sequence of Events
The pilot/owner had changed the engine oil and cleaned the oil screen one week before the accident. However, he did not perform an engine run-up afterward to check for oil leaks. On the morning of the accident, before takeoff, he taxied the airplane in a circuit, stopped, and checked for oil leaks. He did not observe an oil stain on the ground in front of his hangar. He then taxied to the runway, performed an engine run-up, and executed a 360-degree clearing turn before taking off.
After takeoff, while climbing through 1,200 feet, the oil pressure and engine rpm began dropping. The pilot initiated a turn to return to the airport, and the engine quit. He executed a forced landing onto the roof of a supermarket.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the engine compartment revealed that the oil temperature probe securing nut was loose. Only residual oil remained in the engine crankcase. Oil stains were found on the ground along the taxi route and in the engine run-up area. External oil was also observed on the bottom of the fuselage from the engine compartment to the tail.