Event Summary
The airplane lost engine power during the takeoff initial climb. The pilot radioed that he was experiencing fuel problems and attempted to land south of the airport. The airplane touched down in soft sand and nosed over during the ensuing forced landing.
Fuel System and Inspection
Following the accident, the recovery crew reported that both fuel tanks contained a substantial amount of fuel. Inspection of the fuel system found trace amounts of fuel in the system between the electric fuel pump and the fuel distributor, but no fuel in the distributor. The electric fuel pump was inoperative when tested. The right wing fuel tank had an inverted fuel pick-up, while the left wing tank had a standard pick-up. Both pick-ups were clean and free of debris and blockage.
Engine and Magneto Check
An operative electrical fuel pump and a fuel source were connected to the airplane. The engine started without difficulty, but due to the damaged propeller, it was not run at full power. A magneto check was performed and was within the normal range. The airplane was equipped with an Airflow Performance electric fuel pump in addition to the engine-driven fuel pump.
Additional Details
According to the electric fuel pump manufacturer, an optional fuel purge system kit was available to allow the pilot to purge hot fuel from the lines with cooler fuel to prevent vapor lock. The accident airplane did not have this system installed. The fuel system was designed so that if the electric fuel pump became inoperative and was not blocked, the engine-driven pump could draw fuel from the tanks. A representative of the pump manufacturer stated that the pump could run dry for about 1 to 2 minutes before failing due to lack of lubrication.