Incident Summary
During the initial climb after takeoff, at approximately 250 feet above ground level, the engine quit abruptly with no sputtering. The pilot maintained control of the airplane and executed a forced landing in high grass. The landing resulted in substantial damage to the airframe.
Pilot Actions
According to the pilot, a routine pre-flight inspection was performed, followed by a normal pre-takeoff checklist including a magneto check. The takeoff and initial climb were uneventful. The pilot reported accumulating about 165 hours of total flight experience, with approximately 93 hours in the make and model of the accident airplane. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot removed the oil filter, inspected it for contaminants, and reinstalled the same filter.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a mechanic conducted a post-accident examination of the engine. The examination revealed an air bubble in the oil line and a scored piston. These findings indicated that a lack of lubricating oil caused the piston to seize during operation. The engine, installed new in 2004, had approximately 299 hours of time in service at the time of the incident.