Accident Summary
Just after the airplane lifted off the runway, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot aborted the takeoff and attempted to land on the remaining runway. The airplane touched down, overran the departure end of the runway, and impacted a flatbed trailer. It came to rest on uneven terrain against a berm approximately 43 yards from the runway.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that during the preflight and pretakeoff inspections, the airplane appeared to be in proper working condition and worthy of flight. After climbing for several seconds, the pilot heard the engine lose power, and the tachometer reading decreased to 1,400 rpm. Believing that the airplane would not continue flying, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff.
Post-Accident Examination
To determine the reason for the power loss, the accident airplane's engine was removed and installed on another airframe. After removing and replacing several impact-damaged engine accessories and components, the engine was run up to 2,400 rpm. Aside from a minor vibration caused by a bent crankshaft, the engine operated normally. The reason for the partial engine power loss, as reported by the pilot, was not ascertained.