What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Experimental aircraft #N145HF was departing rwy 32 (turf) Somerset county airport (2G9). Shortly after rotation and at approximately 60' AGL, the aircraft experienced a loss of power. According to the pilot, he immediately reduced the pitch to avoid a stall and decided to land straight ahead on the remaining runway. With an excessive descent rate, the pilot attempted to abruptly flare the aircraft to reduce the descent rate. This, however, was unsuccessful and resulted in the main gear collapsing with substantial damage to the airframe. The propeller was also damaged with one of the two blades separating from the prop hub. The pilot stated that the accident was caused by his failure to keep his hand on the power lever during climb out which resulted in the power lever going to idle. He also stated that he had not properly set the friction lever.
As the FAA filed it
EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT #N145HF WAS DEPARTING RWY 32 (TURF) SOMERSET COUNTY AIRPORT (2G9). SHORTLY AFTER ROTATION AND AT APPROXIMATELY 60' AGL, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE IMMEDIATELY REDUCED THE PITCH TO AVOID A STALL AND DECIDED TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. WITH AN EXCESSIVE DESCENT RATE, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ABRUPTLY FLARE THE AIRCRAFT TO REDUCE THE DESCENT RATE. THIS, HOWEVER, WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND RESULTED IN THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSING WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME. THE PROPELLER WAS ALSO DAMAGED WITH ONE OF THE TWO BLADES SEPARATING FROM THE PROP HUB. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY HIS FAILURE TO KEEP HIS HAND ON THE POWER LEVER DURING CLIMB OUT WHICH RESULTED IN THE POWER LEVER GOING TO IDLE. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD NOT PROPERLY SET THE FRICTION LEVER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.