Incident Summary
Shortly after takeoff from runway 26, the airplane was approximately two-thirds of the way down the runway and had climbed to between 300 and 400 feet above ground level when the engine lost power. The pilot activated the fuel pump to the HIGH BOOST setting, which restored power for a brief period of 2 to 5 seconds before power was lost again. The pilot subsequently executed a forced landing on the dirt median separating the eastbound and westbound lanes of an interstate highway.
Aircraft and Engine Details
The airplane was equipped with a Continental IO-470-F fuel-injected engine, rated at 260 horsepower, installed under Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SA3825SW. This modification was performed in accordance with the STC holder's specifications.
Investigation Findings
Following the incident, the engine was disassembled and inspected. No anomalies or mechanical issues were found during the examination. The holder of the STC offered three potential scenarios that could result in a similar power loss: (1) Previous induction fires might weaken the duct containing the alternate air door, potentially allowing the door to become loose and obstruct airflow to the engine. (2) The fuel selector could have been in the off position during takeoff. (3) A loose line in the fuel system could introduce air, indicated by fluctuations on the fuel pressure gauge. However, no official determination of the cause was provided in the source material.