Event Description
A private pilot with 600 hours of flight experience and three passengers were preparing for departure in a single-engine airplane. The engine would not start due to a starter malfunction. A mechanic removed the engine cowling and sprayed a large amount of varsol and silicone into the starter, after which the starter functioned. The pilot then performed a run-up and preflight inspection, noting no anomalies.
During the takeoff initial climb, at approximately 300 feet above mean sea level, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The airplane subsequently crashed. Rescue personnel at the accident site observed fuel and reported that the fuel selector was in the left-tank position; they turned it to the off position after the accident.
Post-Accident Examination
The engine was removed from the airframe and placed on an engine test stand. The test stand's electric fuel pump was used to prime the engine, and it started successfully. However, due to a bent propeller, a vibration developed and the engine could not be operated above idle rpm. The engine was shut down, and the accident airplane's propeller was replaced with a test propeller.
With the test propeller, the engine was restarted and ran for approximately 15 minutes at various power settings from idle to full power. During initial startup and subsequent run, the engine-driven fuel pump pressure varied from 2–3 psi, then increased to about 5 psi and stabilized.
The airplane's electric fuel pump was removed and tested with a battery source; it appeared to operate normally, but its operation during the takeoff could not be verified. Fuel lines from the wings to the engine were inspected and found clear of obstructions.
The engine-driven fuel pump was disassembled. A small piece of debris, approximately 1/8 inch square, was found inside the pump between the inlet and outlet chambers. The scat tubing from the airbox to the carburetor was also inspected; the internal wire and tubing appeared in good condition, but the tubing had been crushed during the accident.
Findings
The reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined.