Accident Overview
On May 5, 2012, at approximately 1500 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, registration N442G, experienced a loss of engine power after takeoff from Williston Municipal Airport (X60) in Williston, Florida. The pilot executed a forced landing in a grassy area adjacent to the crosswind runway, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which had departed Ocala International Airport (OCF), Ocala, Florida, around 1420. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight Details
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was local sightseeing and touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings at X60. During the third takeoff, at about 400 feet altitude and while the landing gear was retracting, the engine lost power. The pilot could not quantify the drop in revolutions per minute but described the power as "minimal." He then turned the airplane and landed with the gear up in a grassy area beside the crosswind runway.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine land and sea ratings, an airline transport pilot certificate with a multiengine land rating, and several type ratings. He reported 23,230 total flight hours, with 11 hours in the accident airplane make and model. His most recent first-class medical certificate was issued in April 2012.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was manufactured in 1977 and equipped with a 200-horsepower Continental TSIO-360 turbocharged reciprocating engine. The most recent annual inspection was completed on November 4, 2011. The aircraft had accumulated 49 hours since that inspection and a total time of 3,234.7 hours at the time of the accident. The engine had 206.8 hours since its most recent overhaul. Postaccident examination revealed the fuel selector in the right wing tank position; both left and right wing tanks were approximately half full.
Weather and Engine Test
The 1450 weather observation at OCF, about 17 miles southeast of the accident site, reported clear skies, wind from 160 degrees at 5 knots, temperature 33°C, dew point 15°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.94 inches of mercury. A postaccident engine test run was conducted under FAA supervision using the fuel remaining on board. An undamaged propeller was installed. The engine started on the first attempt, accelerated without hesitation, and passed a magneto check with no anomalies. Fuel selector manipulation between left and right tanks caused no interruption in fuel flow. The engine decelerated smoothly to idle, and no abnormal indications were observed. A visual inspection of the exhaust system revealed no anomalies.