Accident Details
During preflight inspection, one pilot observed approximately 35 gallons of fuel aboard. The other pilot sumped the fuel tanks and found no water. After engine start, the runup was normal, and the pilots completed pre-takeoff checklists with no anomalies.
Takeoff and Power Loss
After takeoff, the pilot at the controls retracted the landing gear. Immediately, a very noticeable drop in engine rpm and airspeed occurred. With insufficient runway remaining to abort, the pilot made a slight turn to avoid obstacles at the end of the runway, lowered the landing gear, extended the flaps, and reduced power.
Accident Sequence
The airplane impacted terrain, bounced back into the air, and then impacted trees. It came to rest nose-down at the base of a tree. The pilots exited the airplane. Due to a strong odor of fuel, they turned the fuel selector to the off position and turned off the master switch.
Post-Accident Examination
Neither the pilots nor the on-scene Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported any mechanical anomalies at the scene. The inspector confirmed cylinder compression and spark from the dual magnetos. The airplane was subsequently moved to a salvage yard, where an engine run was performed under Safety Board oversight. The engine started after 5 to 6 turns and ran for about 5 minutes. During magneto checks, the left magneto of the dual magneto appeared to be operating abnormally, resulting in increased engine shaking as the rpm increased. The engine ran normally on the right magneto.