Piper PA-28R-201T N442G accident near Williston, Florida

Probable cause

Loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination and testing, which included a successful postaccident engine run.

NTSB analysis

After completing a local sightseeing flight and two touch-and-go landings at a nearby airport, the pilot departed to return to the airplane’s base airport. During takeoff, at an altitude of about 400 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane toward a grassy area and performed a gear-up landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination of the airframe revealed that both fuel tanks were about half full of fuel. A successful postaccident test run of the engine failed to reveal any evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure. Additionally, the weather conditions at the time of the accident were not conducive to the formation of carburetor ice at high power settings.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA12LA340 for the full record.