What happened
During the takeoff phase, the pilot was cleared for departure and instructed to maintain the runway heading. Shortly after liftoff, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff due to what was described as poor airplane performance. This maneuver resulted in a very hard landing. During the aborted attempt, the left main tire blew out, causing the Cessna aircraft to depart the left side of the runway and strike a taxiway sign.
The investigation
Following the incident, the engine underwent functional testing. Investigators discovered that the manifold pressure was 3 inches low when at full takeoff power. During the test, the engine was found to be producing approximately 95-97 percent of the required full power at the takeoff setting. The investigation determined that an adjustment to the wastegate actuator corrected the manifold pressure to the proper setting.