Accident Details
On October 27, 2016, about 1130 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-236 airplane, registration N4376V, impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on takeoff at the Lexington Municipal Airport (4K3), near Lexington, Missouri. The private pilot and three passengers were uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose landing gear and engine mount. The aircraft was registered to Letzig Farms Inc. and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight did not operate on a flight plan. The flight was originating from 4K3 and destined for the Camdenton Memorial-Lake Regional Airport, near Camdenton, Missouri.
Pilot's Account
According to the pilot's accident report, the preflight inspection included sumping all three fuel sumps, and the fuel tanks showed approximately 25 gallons of fuel per side. The pilot started the airplane and taxied to a run-up area. During the run-up, everything checked out fine, including the carburetor heat. Every instrument was checked and worked properly. The fuel tank selector was on the fullest tank. The pilot taxied to the departure runway, turned on the strobes and fuel pump, announced the departure, and verified the propeller and mixture controls were full forward as he added full power. Everything responded fine, and the oil pressure gauge indicated in the green during the takeoff roll. The airplane lifted off and started to climb. The pilot stated, "All at once it was like the engine lost all power." There was no pop or crackle or roughness from the engine during the loss of power. He lowered the nose, veered slightly to the left, and headed for an open field where the nose landing gear collapsed and the engine mount sustained substantial damage during the forced landing.
Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage. The inspector verified that there was spark on all cylinder spark plugs, confirmed fuel was onboard, the fuel selector was on a detent, no debris was in filters, and no other apparent anomalies were found that would have caused a loss of engine power.
Weather Conditions
At 1115, the recorded weather at the Midwest National Air Center Airport (GPH), near Mosby, Missouri, was: wind 140 degrees at 3 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 14 degrees C; dew point 10 degrees C; altimeter 30.28 inches of mercury. The temperature and dew point were plotted on a carburetor icing probability chart, which showed a probability of serious icing at cruise power settings at the reported temperature and dew point about the time of the accident.