SEA00LA185

The pilot, who did not use a checklist, placed the fuel valve in the 'OFF' position while hand-propping his aircraft. After the engine started, he climbed into the back cockpit, but forgot to reposition the fuel valve, which was located in the front cockpit, to the 'ON' position. During the climb-out after takeoff, the engine quit from fuel starvation, but the pilot was unable to reach the valve in order to reposition it during flight. He therefore turned back to the airport in order to execute an engine-out landing. As the aircraft was crossing the runway threshold, the pilot allowed the airspeed to drop below power-off stall speed (Vso), and the aircraft stalled/mushed into the runway surface.

On September 23, 2000, approximately 1000 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Rowe Pietenpol Aircamper, N5079R, impacted the runway during an attempted forced landing, after experiencing a complete loss of power during the climb-out from Willapa Harbor Airport, Raymond, Washington. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, received serious injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Willapa Harbor Airport about three minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed to the planned destination of Astoria, Oregon. The ELT, which was activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene.

According to the pilot, who did not follow a checklist during this flight, he used the common practice of leaving the fuel selector valve in the "OFF" position while hand-propping the engine during the start sequence. After the engine started, he climbed into the back cockpit, but forgot to reposition the fuel valve, which was in the front cockpit, to the "ON" position. After takeoff from runway 11, while climbing out to the southeast, the engine quit, and almost immediately, the pilot realized that he failed to reposition the fuel valve prior to takeoff. Although he could see the valve, he was unable to reach it in order to change its position while in flight. He therefore reversed course and headed back toward the airport. As the aircraft crossed the threshold of runway 29, the pilot allowed the airspeed to slow below power-off stall speed (Vso), and the aircraft stalled/mushed into the surface of the runway.