What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) During test flight, after maintenance, for the replacement of both magnetos and a stand-by alternator, the engine lost power at approximately 2500 feet MSL. Pilot attempted to restore engine power, but was unsuccessful. Pilot then attempted to return to airport, however crash landed short of runway 22 in wooded area. Upon impact aircraft caught fire, the second pilot escaped and pulled the pilot from the aircraft to safety. The second pilot received minor injuries was treated and released, the pilot received serious injury and died from heart failure while undergoing treatment. FAA on scene investigator found no evidence of in-flight fire. Subsequent inspection of propeller blades indicated that the engine was not producing power at time of impact. During engine inspection, no discrepancies were found, that could be used to determine the loss of power. No fuel was found at the fuel distribution unit. Upon request of the NTSB, the engine has been sent to Continental motors for further investigation under supervision of NTSB.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DURING TEST FLIGHT, AFTER MAINTENANCE, FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF BOTH MAGNETOS AND A STAND-BY ALTERNATOR, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT APPROXIMATELY 2500 FEET MSL. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTORE ENGINE POWER, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO AIRPORT, HOWEVER CRASH LANDED SHORT OF RUNWAY 22 IN WOODED AREA. UPON IMPACT AIRCRAFT CAUGHT FIRE, THE SECOND PILOT ESCAPED AND PULLED THE PILOT FROM THE AIRCRAFT TO SAFETY. THE SECOND PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WAS TREATED AND RELEASED, THE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURY AND DIED FROM HEART FAILURE WHILE UNDERGOING TREATMENT. FAA ON SCENE INVESTIGATOR FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF IN-FLIGHT FIRE. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF PROPELLER BLADES INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT PRODUCING POWER AT TIME OF IMPACT. DURING ENGINE INSPECTION, NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND, THAT COULD BE USED TO DETERMINE THE LOSS OF POWER. NO FUEL WAS FOUND AT THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION UNIT. UPON REQUEST OF THE NTSB, THE ENGINE HAS BEEN SENT TO CONTINENTAL MOTORS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION UNDER SUPERVISION OF NTSB.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.