What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On September 17, 2016 the pilot reported the aircraft engine was running rough and had a reduction in power. At that time the pilot performed a precautionary landing in field nearby where he had been dispersing seed. On September 18, 2016 a mechanic inspected the aircraft and found that the #2 cylinder needed to be replaced. The mechanic then replaced the cylinder and the aircraft was run for approximately 15-20 minutes. The pilot then taxied to the end of the field where he would attempt to depart from. Another 5 minute high power run was performed and the magnetos and props were checked multiple times. The pilot the proceeded to attempt a takeoff. After reaching 10-15 above the ground the engine lost power and descended hitting an enclosed trailer and small piece of farm equipment. After coming to a stop the pilot exited the aircraft, which then caught on fire destroying the majority of the aircraft. During investigation it was found that the #4 cylinder had blown. Weather was not a factor: METAR kesn 181850Z 23009KT 10SM BKN065 32/24 A3005
As the FAA filed it
ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2016 THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND HAD A REDUCTION IN POWER. AT THAT TIME THE PILOT PERFORMED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN FIELD NEARBY WHERE HE HAD BEEN DISPERSING SEED. ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND THAT THE #2 CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC THEN REPLACED THE CYLINDER AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS RUN FOR APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MINUTES. THE PILOT THEN TAXIED TO THE END OF THE FIELD WHERE HE WOULD ATTEMPT TO DEPART FROM. ANOTHER 5 MINUTE HIGH POWER RUN WAS PERFORMED AND THE MAGNETOS AND PROPS WERE CHECKED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE PILOT THE PROCEEDED TO ATTEMPT A TAKEOFF. AFTER REACHING 10-15 ABOVE THE GROUND THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND DESCENDED HITTING AN ENCLOSED TRAILER AND SMALL PIECE OF FARM EQUIPMENT. AFTER COMING TO A STOP THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE DESTROYING THE MAJORITY OF THE AIRCRAFT. DURING INVESTIGATION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE #4 CYLINDER HAD BLOWN. WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR: METAR KESN 181850Z 23009KT 10SM BKN065 32/24 A3005
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.