What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft engine lost power on takeoff and, on attempted return to airport, landed in salt water river. Pilot had flown the aircraft approximately one hour earlier in the day doing touch-and-goes. He returned to the airport, washed the aircraft, started up and taxied out for another local flight. Run up and magneto checks were normal. Pilot reported that at about 150 feet AGL the engine lost power and started missing and sputtering like it was running out of fuel. The pilot stated that he did not do a formal preflight after washing the aircraft and that he did not check the fuel tank sumps for water. Inspection of the engine, ignition system, and fuel systems revealed no apparent deficiencies.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT ENGINE LOST POWER ON TAKEOFF AND, ON ATTEMPTED RETURN TO AIRPORT, LANDED IN SALT WATER RIVER. PILOT HAD FLOWN THE AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR EARLIER IN THE DAY DOING TOUCH-AND-GOES. HE RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT, WASHED THE AIRCRAFT, STARTED UP AND TAXIED OUT FOR ANOTHER LOCAL FLIGHT. RUN UP AND MAGNETO CHECKS WERE NORMAL. PILOT REPORTED THAT AT ABOUT 150 FEET AGL THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND STARTED MISSING AND SPUTTERING LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT DO A FORMAL PREFLIGHT AFTER WASHING THE AIRCRAFT AND THAT HE DID NOT CHECK THE FUEL TANK SUMPS FOR WATER. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE, IGNITION SYSTEM, AND FUEL SYSTEMS REVEALED NO APPARENT DEFICIENCIES.
Other reports on N4914J · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.