N9442K

On July 9, 2000 at 2045 central daylight time, a Stinson 108-1, N9442K, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on initial climb from a private airstrip near Topeka, Kansas. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

In a written statement, the pilot said that he had been flying for about 10 minutes when a, "... miss developed in [the] engine." The pilot elected to land and then proceeded to drain fuel from the gascolator and carburetor bowl. After finding no debris or water in the fuel samples, the pilot started the engine and performed an extended run-up where the engine appeared to be operating normally. The pilot proceeded to take off and during the climb out, at about 150 to 200 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot elected to land the aircraft on the runway in the opposite direction of takeoff. The pilot said that he, "Landed hard on [the] right main gear collapsing it [and] dropping on to [the] right wing and slid to [a] stop on [the] edge of [the] runway."

A postaccident examination of the aircraft, by the Federal Aviation Administration, failed to reveal any anomalies that could be associated with a preexisting condition.

In his written statement, the pilot said that the fuel line from the gascolator to the carburetor appeared to have had the rubber liner shaved by the fitting during assembly restricting the flow of fuel.