Accident Summary
A certificated private pilot, accompanied by one passenger, was conducting a cross-country personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of about 200 feet above ground level, the engine began to run rough and lose power. The pilot performed emergency procedures, which were unsuccessful in restoring power. The airplane subsequently collided with a barbwire fence during an off-airport forced landing. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.
Investigation Findings
The airplane was equipped with a recently installed factory-remanufactured Textron Lycoming IO-540 engine. Postaccident examination revealed a grayish, soft, rubbery material partially blocking the ports of the fuel flow divider's metering pin. No debris was discovered inside the fuel injector servo or within the fuel injector's inlet screen.
According to a representative from Textron Lycoming, fuel system components on factory-remanufactured engines are shipped separately. It is the responsibility of the receiving maintenance technician to install these components and ensure that no debris enters the fuel line or fuel flow divider during installation.
Fuel System Analysis
A senior metallurgist from the Safety Board examined the gray foreign material but was unable to identify its source. The material consisted of agglomerations of smaller particles, consistent with a Teflon-like material. The metallurgist also reported that the rubbery material was not consistent with fuel supply line material. No additional debris was found inside the fuel line or within the fuel injector servo.