Accident Details
During takeoff and initial climb, at approximately 400 to 500 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot activated the fuel hi-boost pump, which produced brief surges of engine power. He performed a 180-degree turn back toward the airport but was unable to reach the runway, resulting in a collision with rocky terrain.
Pilot Information
The pilot held an airline transport rating and was also a maintenance technician. He had just completed an annual inspection and installed an overhauled engine in the airplane. He reported flying the airplane three times for a total of about 2.5 hours prior to the accident.
Preflight and Fuel System
During the preflight inspection, the pilot visually checked both fuel tanks. He observed approximately 1 inch of fuel in the left tank and 1.5 inches in the right tank. He then checked the fuel gauges, which indicated about half full for each tank. At the time of the accident, the fuel selector was positioned on the left tank.
Postaccident Findings
The pilot stated that during a postaccident examination, he found the left tank was empty. He also reported that after recovering the airplane and applying electrical power, the left fuel gauge was stuck at 3/8 full.