Event Details
On Tuesday, August 21, a pilot flew to Fullerton and noted no discrepancies before the flight. The airplane was full of fuel, and all checks during preflight, taxi, and engine run-up were normal. During departure, the pilot applied full throttle and observed 38.5 inches of manifold pressure at 2,500 rpm. He crosschecked his instruments and alignment. Approaching midfield, he noted airspeed above 65 knots but not increasing. Manifold pressure appeared unchanged, but rpm had dropped below 2,500, approximately 100 rpm lower. The airplane did not feel or sound like it was accelerating. No hesitation in the engine or metallic sounds were detected.
The pilot decided to abort the takeoff as he passed midfield and reduced throttle. He was unable to stop on the runway and collided with an airport boundary fence about 20 feet past the runway end. The collision sheared off the landing gear and substantially damaged the left wing.
Post-Accident Examination
During post-accident examination, the pilot started the engine using his normal procedures. The propeller cycled normally, and both magnetos dropped 50 rpm during the magneto check. The pilot ran the engine up to full takeoff power, and all instruments, including manifold pressure and rpm, reached their red (maximum) limit marks. He reduced power to idle and then ran the engine back to full power with no anomalies. The engine was secured using normal procedures without difficulty.