Accident Overview
Shortly after lift-off from Runway 31, while approximately 200 feet above ground level, the airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power. The pilot, a commercial pilot with 6,600 hours of total flight experience, attempted to restore engine power by selecting the right fuel tank and turning on the electric fuel boost pump, but these actions were unsuccessful.
Emergency Landing
With the engine unresponsive, the pilot extended the landing gear and elected to perform an emergency landing on a road ahead of the flight path. As the airplane descended, the nose landing gear collided with a fence post just before touchdown, causing the nose gear strut to shear off.
Touchdown and Aftermath
Upon touchdown on the road, the main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid approximately 150 feet before coming to rest in an upright position. There was no post-impact fire, and the pilot was able to egress the airplane unassisted.
Investigation
A detailed examination of the engine and fuel system, specifically the IO-520 engine, did not reveal any anomalies. The pilot reported that the airplane had 60 gallons of fuel on board at the time of the mishap. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined during the investigation.