Event Details
A pilot with 200 hours of flight experience was conducting taxi tests on a 2,200-foot-long grass runway, stating he was "trying to warm the engine up." During the third test, the airplane "went too far down the runway and [the pilot] was forced to takeoff." After reaching an approximate altitude of 25 feet above ground level, the engine lost power and the airplane landed hard.
Pilot's Account
The pilot, who is also a certified mechanic, examined the airplane and reported that the "mechanical fuel pump seal failed." An FAA inspector later relayed to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that the pilot had mentioned recent fuel pump issues. According to the inspector, the pilot stated that during a recent annual inspection, the fuel pump on his airplane was "bad." After replacing the old pump, the new pump "only developed 10 psi." In an attempt to improve fuel pressure, the pilot replaced the fuel filters and fuel lines, but without success. The pilot then decided to conduct a test flight. During one of these test flights, "he [the pilot] crashed the airplane."
Mechanical Findings
The pilot's post-accident examination identified the failed mechanical fuel pump seal as the cause of the power loss. No other mechanical issues were noted in the pilot's report.