RV-12
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 13; Flight Crew Total 2204; Flight Crew Type 440
Time Pressure; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Excursion Runway
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Aircraft
Upon takeoff from RWXX at ZZZ; I was climbing out and my engine failed at 545 ft. MSL. I immediately initiated a left hand turn back to RWXY. Wind was 230@18G23; so take off was easy; but returning to land downwind was challenging my RV12. I announced on CTAF 'engine failure and returning to land dead-stick runway X' I successfully performed a 180 degree turn; which was successful from about 465 ft. AGL; but with an airspeed of 65 Knots (best glide) and a gusting tailwind; my groundspeed back to land was excessive and contributed to my lack of control on landing. Having no ability to go around and concerned I would run off the end of the runway; I landed; braked hard; and then received a gust of wind that lifted my right wing and I departed the runway on the left side striking a taxiway sign and coming to rest just beyond the sign. It would have been nice to stop about 20 ft. sooner which would have avoided the sign; however the nose wheel was torn from the aircraft. No injuries occurred.
RV12 pilot reported an engine failure after takeoff.