What happened
During the takeoff phase, the aircraft failed to climb above 30 feet. As the aircraft attempted to depart, it drifted to the left of the runway and ultimately settled onto the ground. The pilot reported that the engine experienced a period where it missed, quivered, and lost power during the maneuver. At the time of the accident, there was light frost present on the airplane, though the pilot noted that other small aircraft had departed under similar frosty conditions.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the engine, which had been installed on the aircraft only one day prior to the accident. While the engine had been operated on the ground following installation, it had not yet undergone a flight test.
Following the accident, investigators installed an undamaged propeller and operated the engine at 1,000 rpm for four minutes. Testing was also performed on the engine-driven fuel pump, the fuel controller, and the fuel distributor and nozzles. All of these components were found to produce fuel flows and pressures that met the manufacturer's specifications.