What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) A/c departed kaid for what was described as a test flight. Maintenance had just completed the annual inspection and repairs the replacement of the #2 cylinder. The owner/operator stated that it was his intent to fly once around the pattern and make a full stop landing, mechanics would then check for leaks around the replaced cylinder and sign off the annual if all was ok. The flight was reported as normal until the pilot reduced power for landing. Pilot reported the engine the began running rough, he reapplied power and the engine ran normally momentarily, it again began running rough. Pilot reports attempts to regain power by adjusting mixture and switching fuel were unsuccessful. Boost pump was not engaged. A/c struck tree tops, rotated horizontally 180 degrees, and landed right side up approx. 1/4 mile short of runway.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) A/C DEPARTED KAID FOR WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A TEST FLIGHT. MAINTENANCE HAD JUST COMPLETED THE ANNUAL INSPECTION AND REPAIRS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE #2 CYLINDER. THE OWNER/OPERATOR STATED THAT IT WAS HIS INTENT TO FLY ONCE AROUND THE PATTERN AND MAKE A FULL STOP LANDING, MECHANICS WOULD THEN CHECK FOR LEAKS AROUND THE REPLACED CYLINDER AND SIGN OFF THE ANNUAL IF ALL WAS OK. THE FLIGHT WAS REPORTED AS NORMAL UNTIL THE PILOT REDUCED POWER FOR LANDING. PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE THE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH, HE REAPPLIED POWER AND THE ENGINE RAN NORMALLY MOMENTARILY, IT AGAIN BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. PILOT REPORTS ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN POWER BY ADJUSTING MIXTURE AND SWITCHING FUEL WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. BOOST PUMP WAS NOT ENGAGED. A/C STRUCK TREE TOPS, ROTATED HORIZONTALLY 180 DEGREES, AND LANDED RIGHT SIDE UP APPROX. 1/4 MILE SHORT OF RUNWAY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.