What happened
During the initial climb phase following takeoff, the aircraft suffered a partial loss of engine power. This mechanical failure resulted in the aircraft striking trees while in flight. The pilot was able to escape the wreckage, sustaining minor injuries.
At the time of the incident, the fuel levels were noted to be at less than 50% capacity across all three fuel tanks. The sequence of events involved an emergency descent and a subsequent collision with terrain obstructions during the flight path.
Findings
Investigations into the mechanical failure revealed issues within the fuel system. Specifically, the fuel selector valve was found to be worn, which caused the selection plate to be indexed off-center for all possible settings.
This wear contributed to a condition where unporting occurred while the aircraft was maintaining a takeoff attitude. This allowed air to enter the fuel system, leading to fuel starvation. The investigation also noted that the presence of high obstructions made avoiding the terrain impossible during the emergency descent.