What happened
At 1400 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, registration C-FXUF, departed from the Russell, Manitoba, aerodrome for a visual flight rules trip to Gladstone. Shortly after departing Runway 1le, the aircraft's Lycoming O-320 engine lost power while the plane was between 100 and 200 feet above the ground. To avoid a large swamp, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft to the right and lowered the nose to maintain control.
The aircraft subsequently struck a rolling cultivated field at the end of the runway and collided with nearby trees. The impact caused the right wing root leading edge to buckle, which jammed the cockpit door shut. The pilot was forced to exit the aircraft by kicking out the left side window. The pilot sustained minor injuries to the forehead and chest. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the engine, fuel system, and cockpit configuration. Prior to takeoff, the pilot had performed a walk-around and fuel sampling, which showed no contamination. During the engine run-up, no discrepancies were noted, and there was no evidence of carburetor icing. While investigators found that the left fuel vent line was obstructed, they determined this was not a factor in the power loss, as the vented gas cap provided sufficient ventilation.
Investigators also looked into the cockpit's fuel selector valve. The valve featured letters "L" and "R" glued to the dial face, but the placement of these letters did not accurately correspond to the actual tank selections. Additionally, the investigation noted the aircraft lacked shoulder harnesses.
Findings
- The engine lost power due to fuel starvation.
- The fuel selector was likely positioned over the letter "L" without being fully engaged in the left tank detent. This allowed enough fuel for idling and run-up settings, but the increased fuel demand during the takeoff roll exceeded the restricted flow.
- The placement of the "L" and "R" markings on the selector dial was misleading.
- The absence of shoulder harnesses contributed to the pilot's injuries, as the lack of restraint allowed the pilot's upper body to move forward during the impact.