Preflight and Weather
According to the pilot's statement, he arrived at Logan at 1830. The temperature was 90 degrees, and the calculated density altitude was approximately 7,000 feet. There was no wind at the time of the weather check, but an airport employee suggested using runway 35.
Engine Start and Taxi
The pilot experienced some difficulty starting the engine, but all pre-takeoff checks were normal, and the airplane ran fine. During taxi to runway 35, the pilot noticed the wind was from 050 degrees at 15 knots and elected to use runway 17 instead.
Takeoff and Climb
The pilot leaned the mixture to 2,200 rpm, accelerated to 80 knots, and rotated. After rotation, the airplane continued to accelerate but would only climb approximately 20 to 25 feet above the runway. The pilot adjusted the mixture and attempted to add more power, but the engine would not respond.
Forced Landing
With no runway remaining, the pilot continued on the departure heading and made a forced landing in a field just past the end of the runway.
Examination Findings
An examination of the airplane's systems revealed that the airplane was full of fuel, the throttle was at idle, the mixture was lean, the propeller was at high rpm, and the flaps were in the retracted position. The landing gear selector lever was in the "up" position, but the ground scars at the initial impact point and the damage to the landing gear were consistent with the landing gear being in the extended position.
An examination of the engine revealed that all spark plugs were worn in a "football" shape. The shielding was exposed on the number 5 cylinder's bottom spark plug wire. A small hole, approximately the size of a pencil tip, was located on the manifold pressure tube for the number 5 cylinder. The propeller pitch control was found full forward and in contact with the pedestal stop prior to the governor stop, which would restrict its travel to full rpm by 1/8 inch. With the engine and controls in this condition, it would not be possible for the engine to make the takeoff rpm of 2,700.