What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) After takeoff from runway 31, the pilot began a left turn at approximately 1400 MSL (514' AGL). He reported hearing 4 or 4 seconds of loud knocking which was followed by a sudden propeller stoppage. The aircraft landed on a southwest heading and slid on belly sideways for fifty feet, knocking both landing gear struts off, deforming the firewall, and damaging the bottom of the engine. The main spar may also be bent. Waiting on the engine teardown and analysis. The pilot's head was cut during landing, but he was able to walk away from the airplane. The pilot did not have a valid medical to act as a private pilot, but claimed to be exercising his sport pilot privilege.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 31, THE PILOT BEGAN A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 1400 MSL (514' AGL). HE REPORTED HEARING 4 OR 4 SECONDS OF LOUD KNOCKING WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN PROPELLER STOPPAGE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON A SOUTHWEST HEADING AND SLID ON BELLY SIDEWAYS FOR FIFTY FEET, KNOCKING BOTH LANDING GEAR STRUTS OFF, DEFORMING THE FIREWALL, AND DAMAGING THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. THE MAIN SPAR MAY ALSO BE BENT. WAITING ON THE ENGINE TEARDOWN AND ANALYSIS. THE PILOT'S HEAD WAS CUT DURING LANDING, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE A VALID MEDICAL TO ACT AS A PRIVATE PILOT, BUT CLAIMED TO BE EXERCISING HIS SPORT PILOT PRIVILEGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.