N6123P

On April 26, 1999, at 1530 eastern daylight time, a Dawe Arnet Pereyra AV II, N6123P, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, following a loss of power, during initial climb from Peck Lake, near Fremont, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and had the intended destination of Fremont Municipal Airport, Fremont, Michigan.

According to the pilot's written statement, he taxied the airplane around Peck Lake for a period of three to four minutes then departed the lake on a westerly heading. The pilot stated that during the initial climb, at an altitude of approximately 120 feet above ground level (agl), the engine seized. The pilot reported that the airplane collided with a top of a tree while maneuvering for an open field. The pilot stated that the aircraft impacted the terrain nose first and came to rest in an inverted position.

During the post accident investigation an engine teardown and inspection was conducted. Inspection of the magneto cylinder and piston revealed scoring along cylinder and piston walls. The piston face, from the magneto cylinder, was distorted in appearance when compared to the power-takeoff piston face. The power-takeoff piston wall and skirt exhibited a blue colored discoloration.

Inspection of the pilot's logbooks revealed that the pilot did not possess a single-engine sea rating.