Accident Bensen B8M N4544L, Saturday 13 April 1985

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Date:	Saturday 13 April 1985
Time:	14:47 LT
Type:	Bensen B8M
Owner/operator:	Stanton Sederberg
Registration:	N4544L
MSN:	1
Total airframe hrs:	75 hours
Engine model:	McCulloch 100-13
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Lower Lake, CA - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Lower Lake, CA (209)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
FOLLOWING A NORMAL TAKEOFF WITH THE FUEL TANK ONE-HALF FULL, THE ACFT CLIMBED TO 1000 FT AGL AT WHICH TIME ENGINE PWR WAS GRADUALLY LOST. A GRND WITNESS REPORTED HEARING THE ENG SPUTTER OR MISS. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE ARPT BUT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A 50 TO 60 FT TALL TREE. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENG PWR IS UNKNOWN. THE PLT WAS THE BUILDER OF THE EXPERIMENTAL ACFT & HAD JUST REINSTALLED THE ENG PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: