M-20 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 28; Flight Crew Total 800; Flight Crew Type 558
Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Procedure
Ground assigned me an intersection departure on Runway XY. I declined the intersection departure and requested full length as it was the first flight post-maintenance. Runway XY is 10;000 FT in length with a grass overrun area at the end. After runup; I took off and when I reached approximately 150 feet AGL; I experienced what felt to be a complete loss of engine power; pulled the throttle to the idle position; configured the aircraft for landing and landed straight ahead; overshooting the end of the runway. I landed in the grass field past the end of the runway and slightly to the right to avoid approach lights. Prior to the incident; maintenance to the alternator was performed in which the air ducting to the fuel servo had been removed. It was reported to me that mechanical examination after the incident revealed that both spark plugs in the #4 cylinder experienced destructive damage as well as damage to the top of the piston.
During the takeoff following alternator maintenance; a M-20 pilot experienced what he believed was a complete power loss. He landed long and rolled of the runway end. Later; Maintenance found number four piston top and both its spark plugs damaged.