What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Witness reported that after takeoff the engine was "sputtering", then ?looped in a counter-clockwise direction? And was ?going down fast.? Upon inspection of the aircraft, right wing fuel tank was drained from tree impact. Left wing fuel tank was destroyed by post impact fire. Right wing fuel cap seal had cracks outward around seal. Right wing fuel cap was destroyed by fire. Brown stain found around right wing fuel tank drain and left wing tank drain destroyed by fire. Fuel was found in the carburetor. Lycoming representative conducted a tear down of the engine and was unable to provide evidence of engine failure.
As the FAA filed it
WITNESS REPORTED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE WAS "SPUTTERING", THEN ?LOOPED IN A COUNTER-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION? AND WAS ?GOING DOWN FAST.? UPON INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, RIGHT WING FUEL TANK WAS DRAINED FROM TREE IMPACT. LEFT WING FUEL TANK WAS DESTROYED BY POST IMPACT FIRE. RIGHT WING FUEL CAP SEAL HAD CRACKS OUTWARD AROUND SEAL. RIGHT WING FUEL CAP WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. BROWN STAIN FOUND AROUND RIGHT WING FUEL TANK DRAIN AND LEFT WING TANK DRAIN DESTROYED BY FIRE. FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR. LYCOMING REPRESENTATIVE CONDUCTED A TEAR DOWN OF THE ENGINE AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF ENGINE FAILURE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N31202 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.