ALLAIRE AIRPORT, NJ, USA
N31549
WOODS FORMULA VEE SL-1
THE PILOT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT AN ESTIMATED 50 TO 75 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. HE ATTEMPTED TO TROUBLESHOOT AND INITIATED A TURN BACK TOWARDS THE RUNWAY. THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 100 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON AN AIRPORT ACCESS ROAD, 'FLATTENED THE LANDING GEAR...' AND SKIDDED INTO A SANDY DITCH. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN ON TWO BRIEF LOCAL FLIGHTS EARLIER IN THE DAY, AND BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THE ENGINE PERFORMED NORMALLY DURING THOSE FLIGHTS. INVESTIGATORS WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
THE IMPROPER FLARE AND TOUCHDOWN BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND WHILE MAKING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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