Incident
On October 29, 2011, about 1646 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Brochetti Pietenpol Aircamper, N486LB, impacted trees and terrain following a loss of engine power on takeoff. The accident occurred at Smith-Stewart Field Airport (79OH), Vienna, Ohio. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings and fuselage.
Aircraft and Flight
The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was not on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident, with an intended destination of Warren Airport (62D), Warren, Ohio.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that the airplane had not been flown in the previous three to four weeks and that it had rained on the morning of the accident flight. He performed a preflight inspection and found no anomalies. During the preflight, fuel was drained from each tank but was not collected for visual inspection. The engine start and taxi were normal. The airplane lifted off as expected but then would not climb as expected. It subsequently impacted trees at the end of the runway.
Weather Conditions
At 1651, the recorded temperature and dew point at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, about 4 miles north of the accident site, were 5 degrees Celsius and 0 degrees Celsius, respectively. According to FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-09-35, these conditions were in the range for serious carburetor icing potential.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination by FAA inspectors revealed that one of the engine's spark plug wire terminals was not attached to its respective spark plug. No other evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation were found.
In his report, the pilot surmised that carburetor icing or contaminated fuel may have contributed to the loss of engine power.