Narrative
The pilot, who had flown the airplane on multiple prior occasions, described its performance as 'flawless.' Following a one-hour flight, the airplane returned to the departure airport. After a 30-minute period on the ground, during which a radio antenna was repaired, the engine was started to test the radio communication and then shut down. The pilot subsequently restarted the engine with a single pull of the propeller and taxied for takeoff. Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 200 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a steep 180-degree turn, during which the airplane stalled and entered a spin, impacting the ground about 1,000 feet from the departure end of the runway.
Examination Findings
Post-accident examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failures of the airframe or engine. The fuel selector valve and its associated cockpit control assembly were found in the OFF position. When air was applied to one end of the fuel selector valve while it was in the OFF position, a flow of air was detected at the other end, indicating that the valve permitted some airflow. In a test using a similar airplane, the engine was started with the fuel selector in the OFF position and ran for 1 minute and 46 seconds before ceasing due to fuel starvation.