What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The aircraft builder had experienced engine operating issues from the time the aircraft had been completed. He thought the engine had fuel injection problems. The builder made several adjustments, components replacements, ground runs and test flights. This flight was following a ground run. The aircraft took off, gained 400 feet when the engine quit. The pilot turned to the east toward a suitable landing site, struck electrical power wires, landed with the left wing striking a tree.
As the FAA filed it
THE AIRCRAFT BUILDER HAD EXPERIENCED ENGINE OPERATING ISSUES FROM THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN COMPLETED. HE THOUGHT THE ENGINE HAD FUEL INJECTION PROBLEMS. THE BUILDER MADE SEVERAL ADJUSTMENTS, COMPONENTS REPLACEMENTS, GROUND RUNS AND TEST FLIGHTS. THIS FLIGHT WAS FOLLOWING A GROUND RUN. THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF, GAINED 400 FEET WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT TURNED TO THE EAST TOWARD A SUITABLE LANDING SITE, STRUCK ELECTRICAL POWER WIRES, LANDED WITH THE LEFT WING STRIKING A TREE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.