What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot (also builder/owner) was on his first test flight after repairing the amateur-built aircraft's engine. Pilot had ground-run engine at high RPM (but not full power) for 15-20 minutes prior to takeoff. Pilot took uphill on paved section of 2200' runway. After takeoff the engine began to run rough, cylinder head temp rose, and RPM progressively dropped from 2700 through 2100 before impact into trees near airport. Pilot stated that 2700 RPM is needed to sustaine level flight. The pilot stated that the converted volkswagen automobile engine had run smoothly for about 200 hours since new in 1998 until September 2004 when it began to run hot for the last several hours. (Engine seized in flight in sept. 2004). Pilot repaired engine and installed new heads). Impact. Pilot suspects some undetected internal damage or wear causing the engine to overheat. Engine is not under any warranty and was assembled by the pilot in 1988 from a kit that converted it from auto use. Prior to the accident flight pilot added 6 gallons of auto gas and drained sump, found fuel clean. Upon impact fuel spilled onto pilot from tank in front of him. Wing, prop, and landing gear substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT (ALSO BUILDER/OWNER) WAS ON HIS FIRST TEST FLIGHT AFTER REPAIRING THE AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE. PILOT HAD GROUND-RUN ENGINE AT HIGH RPM (BUT NOT FULL POWER) FOR 15-20 MINUTES PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. PILOT TOOK UPHILL ON PAVED SECTION OF 2200' RUNWAY. AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, CYLINDER HEAD TEMP ROSE, AND RPM PROGRESSIVELY DROPPED FROM 2700 THROUGH 2100 BEFORE IMPACT INTO TREES NEAR AIRPORT. PILOT STATED THAT 2700 RPM IS NEEDED TO SUSTAINE LEVEL FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE CONVERTED VOLKSWAGEN AUTOMOBILE ENGINE HAD RUN SMOOTHLY FOR ABOUT 200 HOURS SINCE NEW IN 1998 UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2004 WHEN IT BEGAN TO RUN HOT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS. (ENGINE SEIZED IN FLIGHT IN SEPT. 2004). PILOT REPAIRED ENGINE AND INSTALLED NEW HEADS). IMPACT. PILOT SUSPECTS SOME UNDETECTED INTERNAL DAMAGE OR WEAR CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. ENGINE IS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY AND WAS ASSEMBLED BY THE PILOT IN 1988 FROM A KIT THAT CONVERTED IT FROM AUTO USE. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT PILOT ADDED 6 GALLONS OF AUTO GAS AND DRAINED SUMP, FOUND FUEL CLEAN. UPON IMPACT FUEL SPILLED ONTO PILOT FROM TANK IN FRONT OF HIM. WING, PROP, AND LANDING GEAR SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.