Accident Details
The airplane was completely fueled earlier in the day and had completed one flight uneventfully. It departed on runway 30 for a return flight to the pilot's home airport. About 200 feet above ground level (AGL), the engine began to run rough and lost partial power. The electric fuel pump was already on, and the pilot switched fuel tanks, but the engine continued to run rough.
Forced Landing
The pilot initially flew a left-hand traffic pattern for runway 30; however, he subsequently did not think the airplane would reach that runway. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a closed runway oriented about 070 degrees. The airplane touched down near the end of the runway, traveled over a grassy area, and struck trees. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the flaps were in the retracted position.
Post-Accident Examination
The left wing fuel tank was compromised during the impact. The right wing fuel tank remained intact and was approximately 1/4-full. Fuel was present in the fuel manifold. The fuel selector was found positioned toward the left tank position, but not in the detent. Further examination revealed that the number six exhaust valve pushrod was bent, possibly during recovery of the airplane. Examination of the engine, including the number six cylinder exhaust valve, did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was performed about 20 days prior to the accident, and the airplane had accumulated approximately 3 hours of operation since the inspection.