Narrative:

Taking off runway 26 at my own turf runway at approximately 100 ft AGL the engine quit suddenly -- completely -- but continued to windmill. A glide at 80 KTS was established. At approximately 30 ft AGL the engine coughed and regained power. Because of a tree line perpendicular to my line of flight at an estimated 450 ft, I elected to close the throttle and complete the landing. Because the landing gear was not fully retracted, the gear retract mechanisms were damaged, as was the propeller. The fuel in tank selected was approximately 6.5 gallons (of 12.7 total capacity). The carburetor was found full. Two possible causes come to mind. I turned left just prior to takeoff, with right main selected. This aircraft small aircraft sel has a rather thin airfoil and high taper. This means a rather 'thin' gas tank. The grass runway is 100 ft wide and requires a tight turn. Fuel unporting was a possibility. The engine model, unlike most engine model installations is susceptible to carburetor icing. (OAT approximately 40 degree F/humidity 70 percent). Prior to takeoff I allowed the oil to warm for about 8 mins. When I've repaired my airplane I shall discontinue the practice of turning onto the runway while accelerating for takeoff. Further, a more complete test for carburetor icing, one which lasts 20-30 seconds is in order. I believe I'm pleased that I elected to stay with my original plan to land and did not try to 'stagger' over trees with an unknown engine and 22 pounds. A square ft wing loading. I feel making and sticking to a decision in emergencys is a good plan. The damage was minimal. I'm here to write about it. The other lesson is; with high performance airplanes, especially exotic ones feel one's way very cautiously -- end.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA SEL ACFT ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LNDG AFTER TKOF WHEN THE ENG QUIT AND THEN RESTARTED BTWN 30-100 FT ABOVE THE RWY WITH HIGH TREES TO CLR AT END OF RWY.

Narrative: TAKING OFF RWY 26 AT MY OWN TURF RWY AT APPROX 100 FT AGL THE ENG QUIT SUDDENLY -- COMPLETELY -- BUT CONTINUED TO WINDMILL. A GLIDE AT 80 KTS WAS ESTABLISHED. AT APPROX 30 FT AGL THE ENG COUGHED AND REGAINED PWR. BECAUSE OF A TREE LINE PERPENDICULAR TO MY LINE OF FLT AT AN ESTIMATED 450 FT, I ELECTED TO CLOSE THE THROTTLE AND COMPLETE THE LNDG. BECAUSE THE LNDG GEAR WAS NOT FULLY RETRACTED, THE GEAR RETRACT MECHANISMS WERE DAMAGED, AS WAS THE PROP. THE FUEL IN TANK SELECTED WAS APPROX 6.5 GALLONS (OF 12.7 TOTAL CAPACITY). THE CARB WAS FOUND FULL. TWO POSSIBLE CAUSES COME TO MIND. I TURNED L JUST PRIOR TO TKOF, WITH R MAIN SELECTED. THIS ACFT SMA SEL HAS A RATHER THIN AIRFOIL AND HIGH TAPER. THIS MEANS A RATHER 'THIN' GAS TANK. THE GRASS RWY IS 100 FT WIDE AND REQUIRES A TIGHT TURN. FUEL UNPORTING WAS A POSSIBILITY. THE ENG MODEL, UNLIKE MOST ENG MODEL INSTALLATIONS IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CARB ICING. (OAT APPROX 40 DEG F/HUMIDITY 70 PERCENT). PRIOR TO TKOF I ALLOWED THE OIL TO WARM FOR ABOUT 8 MINS. WHEN I'VE REPAIRED MY AIRPLANE I SHALL DISCONTINUE THE PRACTICE OF TURNING ONTO THE RWY WHILE ACCELERATING FOR TKOF. FURTHER, A MORE COMPLETE TEST FOR CARB ICING, ONE WHICH LASTS 20-30 SECONDS IS IN ORDER. I BELIEVE I'M PLEASED THAT I ELECTED TO STAY WITH MY ORIGINAL PLAN TO LAND AND DID NOT TRY TO 'STAGGER' OVER TREES WITH AN UNKNOWN ENG AND 22 POUNDS. A SQUARE FT WING LOADING. I FEEL MAKING AND STICKING TO A DECISION IN EMERS IS A GOOD PLAN. THE DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL. I'M HERE TO WRITE ABOUT IT. THE OTHER LESSON IS; WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE AIRPLANES, ESPECIALLY EXOTIC ONES FEEL ONE'S WAY VERY CAUTIOUSLY -- END.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.