Accident Details
On December 21, 2020, at 1525 Pacific standard time, a Navion A (registration N4106K) sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Livermore, California. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Flight History
The aircraft had recently undergone installation of new wingtip fuel tanks in July 2020, with an annual inspection completed at the same time. The accident flight was the first flight since the fuel tank installation. The pilot performed a normal runup before departing from runway 7R at Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK). During takeoff, the engine developed full power. At approximately 500 feet above ground level, while turning onto the crosswind leg, the engine began to surge and lose power. As the pilot reduced power for landing on the downwind leg, the engine lost total power. Realizing the airplane would not reach the runway, the pilot prepared for a landing on the grass area parallel to the runway. The airplane touched down, and the left wing impacted concrete blocks, causing substantial damage.
Postaccident Examination
Examination of the engine revealed a leaking gascolator fuel inlet line and a loose hose clamp connection on the fuel line from the fuel selector to the gascolator. The line was made of rubber instead of aluminum tubing, and the fuel selector's connection was improper. Additionally, the wingtip fuel tank installation showed several inconsistencies, including loose clamps and improper hardware.