Incident Summary
A commercial pilot took off and, while still in the traffic pattern, radioed a mechanic on the ground stating that he was "losing power." The pilot attempted to return to the runway but landed short of it. According to a witness, the left side of the airplane and engine cowling impacted the ground, bounced, and then the right wing tip struck the ground before the aircraft settled on its fuselage and left wing tip.
Examination Findings
Examination of the gas and oil showed they were clean and free of debris. The gascolator was clean and full. The aircraft had been topped off with fuel prior to departure, and no anomalies were noted with the fuel system. All engine accessories were in place, and the engine rotated. Engine continuity and compression were established.
Carburetor Mismatch
The carburetor (part number 10-4894) was removed for inspection. The proper carburetor part number for the accident aircraft engine (C-90-12F) is 10-5082. The carburetor that was installed on the accident airplane's engine was certified for an O-200-A engine. Precision Airmotive Corporation, the type certificate holder of the carburetor, stated that the carburetors could not be converted from one engine to another, and that certification testing had not been performed for the carburetor (part number 10-4894) to be installed on C-90-12F series engines. The carburetor that was installed on the accident airplane is not interchangeable between O-200-A and C-90-12F series engines.