What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Dec 27, 2020 - N5939D departed from Mountain view airpark (0GE5) in a northwest direction(350). Pilot states moments after takeoff engine lost power and aircraft began to settle. PIC applied carb heat and immediately switch from right tank to left tank. The engine surged briefly and immediately lost power. PIC de-selected carb heat and nose the aircraft over to gain airspeed but aircraft continued to settle until striking trees approximately 3/4 of a mile away.
On jan 14, 2021, N5939D located at privacy data omitted, underwent a thorough inspection of the engine and fuel system. N5939D was prepped for engine run by installing an external fuel tank and the damaged cowling removed. On initial start, the engine cranked but did not fire off. After several tries, the engine finally fired and ran with no issues. The carburetor was removed from the engine and disassembled with no findings. (Note: a small amount of debris was present in the carburetor screen but nothing of significant value). The aircraft fuel lines, fuel selector valves, fuel tanks, fuel caps and gascolator were all inspected and purged with no issues noted.
As the FAA filed it
DEC 27, 2020 - N5939D DEPARTED FROM MOUNTAIN VIEW AIRPARK (0GE5) IN A NORTHWEST DIRECTION(350). PILOT STATES MOMENTS AFTER TAKEOFF ENGINE LOST POWER AND AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SETTLE. PIC APPLIED CARB HEAT AND IMMEDIATELY SWITCH FROM RIGHT TANK TO LEFT TANK. THE ENGINE SURGED BRIEFLY AND IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER. PIC DE-SELECTED CARB HEAT AND NOSE THE AIRCRAFT OVER TO GAIN AIRSPEED BUT AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SETTLE UNTIL STRIKING TREES APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF A MILE AWAY.
ON JAN 14, 2021, N5939D LOCATED AT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, UNDERWENT A THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM. N5939D WAS PREPPED FOR ENGINE RUN BY INSTALLING AN EXTERNAL FUEL TANK AND THE DAMAGED COWLING REMOVED. ON INITIAL START, THE ENGINE CRANKED BUT DID NOT FIRE OFF. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, THE ENGINE FINALLY FIRED AND RAN WITH NO ISSUES. THE CARBURETOR WAS REMOVED FROM THE ENGINE AND DISASSEMBLED WITH NO FINDINGS. (NOTE: A SMALL AMOUNT OF DEBRIS WAS PRESENT IN THE CARBURETOR SCREEN BUT NOTHING OF SIGNIFICANT VALUE). THE AIRCRAFT FUEL LINES, FUEL SELECTOR VALVES, FUEL TANKS, FUEL CAPS AND GASCOLATOR WERE ALL INSPECTED AND PURGED WITH NO ISSUES NOTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.