Departure and Power Loss
The pilot departed from runway 30. Shortly after liftoff, the pilot reported that the engine "seemed to lose a lot of its power." The aircraft climbed minimally before the power loss was noted.
Forced Landing
Surveying the area, the pilot determined that the residential surroundings offered no open fields suitable for an emergency landing. The pilot then executed a landing in a small opening between two houses. The fuselage passed between two apple trees during the landing roll.
Post-Landing Inspection
After the event, examination of the propeller revealed minimal damage, limited to chordwise scratching on one blade. The engine was subsequently run and developed 2,450 RPM. The magnetos, carburetor heat, and fuel selector all operated normally during the ground run.
Fuel Examination
Fuel from the wing tanks could not be examined for contamination because the fuel had spilled out when the wings separated from the fuselage. The pilot reported that just prior to takeoff, he had switched the fuel selector to the fullest tank after completing the engine run-up.