20000815014269A

(-23) During climb engine RPM declined an d flight instuctor started immediate return to the airport. During the turn the a/c collided with pine trees approx. 200 feet high. And subsequently crashed to the ground. The engine separated fro a/c and neither pilot or student pilot sustained injuries. The PIC reported that the stall warning horn sounded just seconds before the impact with the pine trees. The a/c engine will under go further tests by the engine mfr. (On 8-13-00 the engine was test run by the manufacturer and the FAA FSDO 15 and there was no loss of RPM. The engine reached and maintained 2400 RPM) (.4) the flight instructor stated that during climb after takeoff, the engine lost power and the RPM dropped to about 2,100. He took the controls from the student and initiated a left turn back toward the airport. When he realized he could not make the airport, he landed in trees. A witness stated the engine did not sound like it was producing full power from the beginning of takeoff roll and the airplane made a long takeoff roll using about two thirds of the 4,158 foot runway. After liftoff, the airplane climbed slow a ND the pilot's initiated a turn to the left with a nose high attitude. The airplane stalled and the left wing dropped. The airplane descended and crashed into the trees. He heard the engine continue to run until the airplane crashed. Postcrash examination of the engine showed the spark plugs were fouled with carbon and lead deposits and the propeller blades were bent forward. The engine was started and operated roughly to 1,700 RPM. After cleaning the plugs and changing the bent propeller, the engine was started and operated to 2,200 RPM, full static RPM.