Accident Details
The accident occurred during departure from Spadaro Airport (1N2) in East Moriches, New York. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane's engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot attempted to regain full power by activating the carburetor heat control, but the effort was unsuccessful. Consequently, the pilot performed a forced landing on a road. The airplane bounced upon initial contact and subsequently touched down in an adjacent field. During the rollout in the field, the airplane struck an obstruction and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the accident, investigators examined the wreckage. The fuel tanks were found to be nearly full, and fuel drained from the system showed no signs of contamination. An examination of the engine was conducted, revealing that crankshaft and camshaft continuity was confirmed. The magnetos produced spark at all spark plugs. A differential pressure test was performed, during which air could be heard discharging at the oil filler/crankcase breather. Cylinders #1 and #3 exhibited readings below the specified leakage limits. An internal inspection of those cylinders revealed heavy carbon deposits on both the cylinder heads and valves. Additionally, wear was visually observed on the cylinder walls, and both rod end bearings exhibited excessive play. The airplane had received an annual inspection 55 flight hours prior to the accident, and the engine was 164 flight hours short of the recommended overhaul time.