ERA22LA389

Following an engine overhaul, the pilot conducted several test flights around the airport traffic pattern. After landing, the airplane was fueled with aviation fuel, and the pilot began another flight. During the takeoff roll, a witness observed that the airplane seemed “sluggish,” and the engine sounded “weak.” The pilot realized the engine was not producing full power but decided it was too late to abort the takeoff. As the airplane approached the top of a 70-ft-tall tree line, the pilot exceeded the critical angle of attack; the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and descended into trees. The airplane came to rest suspended from the tree canopy, and a postcrash fire ensued. The pilot was able to egress the airplane and jump to the ground. Postaccident examination of the engine and components, which were extensively damaged by fire, did not reveal evidence of any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence.

On August 27, 2022, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N76527, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Slocomb, Alabama. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, after conducting his preflight and engine runup, he departed and flew near the airport for about 1 hour, landed, and checked for leaks as the engine had just been overhauled. He repeated this process “a couple more times” and then refueled the airplane with aviation fuel from several gas containers. A witness, the pilot’s son, reported that during takeoff after the refueling, the takeoff roll seemed “sluggish,” and the engine sounded “weak.” The pilot reported that the “engine wasn’t making good power” but it was too late to abort the takeoff. The witness noted that immediately after rotation during the initial climb, the airplane seemed to be climbing slower than normal as it proceeded west towards a line of trees that were about 70 ft tall. According to the pilot, as he attempted to clear the trees, he felt the airplane stall. Shortly after the airplane reached the top of the trees, the right wing dropped, and the airplane descended into the trees and disappeared from the witness’s view. The witness drove to the tree line and found that the airplane had come to rest in the tree canopy about 30 ft above ground level and that the pilot had egressed the airplane by jumping out as the airplane was catching on fire. According to the airport owner, who was also a mechanic with inspection authorization, he had recently overhauled the airplane’s engine and installed it on the airframe. After the installation of the engine, the mechanic test ran the engine for several hours with no anomalous behavior noted, and the pilot conducted “4 or 5 flights” around the airport with no discrepancies. The mechanic reported that the engine had operated about 5 hours since overhaul when the accident occurred. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and reported that the airplane impacted trees and became suspended about 30 ft off the ground on a heading of about 270° magnetic and 600 ft from the end of the turf runway. The fuel tanks were breached during impact, and a post-crash fire had consumed the cockpit and fuselage while the empennage remained in the trees. The engine was exposed to fire and thermally damaged but remained relatively free from impact damage and was subsequently examined. The carburetor heat was in the off position, and the carburetor parts and components were undamaged and clear of any water or contaminants. All spark plugs were checked and found to be in good condition. Both magnetos were damaged by postimpact fire, and the internal components were destroyed and unable to produce spark. A borescope examination was conducted on all cylinders and revealed no defects or anomalous findings. The weatherat the time of the accident was not conducive to the formation of carburetor ice.