Incident Details
During the takeoff roll, the pilot experienced engine surging. After becoming airborne, the pilot reported an inability to maintain altitude, prompting a forced landing. The aircraft came to rest inverted in a tree at an elevation of about 40 feet above the ground.
The pilot, flying solo, had previously landed at an airport and noted that the engine did not feel correct at full throttle during that takeoff. Together with a co-owner, the pilot attempted to diagnose the issue but could not identify a problem. They then proceeded to fly to the airport where the accident ultimately occurred. They made two landings there, and on the second takeoff, the pilot stated that the problem reappeared, culminating in the tree landing.
Fuel System Examination
According to the pilot, the aircraft's fuel consumption was 10 to 10.5 gallons per hour in level flight. The aircraft had two fuel tanks, each holding 26 gallons, totaling 52 gallons. Of this, 9 gallons were unusable, leaving 43 gallons of usable fuel. The tanks were last topped off on June 28, 2001. The pilot, who was also the owner and a student pilot, did not log all flight time since refueling, but 3.98 hours were logged. At a consumption rate of 10.5 gallons per hour, approximately 41.79 gallons would have been used in 3.98 hours.
After the accident, examination of the fuel system revealed that about 2 gallons of fuel were drained from the left tank, while the right tank was empty. The drained fuel was clean, with no evidence of sediment or water. No fuel leaks were found at the accident site, and no fuel odor was noted.
Propeller and Engine Examination
Inspection of the propeller and engine revealed no discrepancies.
Probable Cause
The investigation did not state a probable cause.