Incident Overview
A student pilot initiated a touch and go landing. After touchdown, the airplane was slow to accelerate. The flight instructor took over the flight controls and ensured the carburetor heat was off. He then raised the flaps to 20 degrees. About halfway down the runway, he rotated the airplane and raised the flaps to 10 degrees. Upon reaching 60 mph, he adjusted the airplane to a climb attitude and raised the flaps to the full up position.
Sequence of Events
After reaching approximately 50 feet of altitude, the airplane began to lose power and exhibited a high sink rate. The CFI applied aft pressure on the control yoke to maintain a nose-high attitude. The airplane subsequently collided with the ground off the end of the runway with significant force. The right main landing gear separated, and the airplane came to a stop.
Fuel Investigation
Law enforcement personnel checked the fuel levels by turning on the master switch. The left fuel tank registered no fuel, and the right fuel tank showed about an eighth of a tank. An Airframe and Powerplant mechanic then drained the fuel tanks to determine the remaining quantity. About 2 gallons of fuel was recovered. The total fuel capacity of the aircraft is 49 gallons. According to the flight manual, usable fuel in each bay for all flight conditions is 24 gallons when completely filled.
Conclusion
The incident involved a loss of engine power during climb after a touch and go, resulting in a hard landing and gear separation. Fuel starvation was identified as a key circumstance.