Accident
On April 12, 2008, at approximately 1900 Alaska daylight time, a Piper J5A airplane, registration N38149, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing after takeoff at Big Lake Airport in Big Lake, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The solo commercial certificated pilot received minor injuries.
Pilot's Account
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge on the same day, the pilot reported that after liftoff, the airplane climbed to about 50 feet, at which point the engine lost power. The airplane then descended into trees at the end of the runway, resulting in structural damage to both wings, the tail, and the fuselage. The pilot, who is also a certificated aircraft mechanic, stated that the airplane had not flown in approximately one year. He had spent the day preparing the airplane for a flight to Fairbanks, Alaska, noting that the accident flight was intended as a test flight. He indicated that the airplane had fuel and seemed to run fine during ground operations.
Investigation
In a written statement dated April 20, the pilot explained that before starting the engine, he had moved the airplane, raised the tail, and drained about 1 to 2 gallons of clear fuel from the fuel system. He also stated that he had preheated the engine for several hours prior to the accident flight. A detailed examination of the engine was not performed, and the pilot reported being unsure why the engine lost power.