Event MIA95LA069

Factual narrative

On February 4, 1995, about 1430 eastern standard time, a Lake LA-4, registered to Phillip Adams, lost engine power and was landed gear up shortly after takeoff from St. Augustine Airport, St. Augustine, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that upon reaching an altitude of 100-125 feet after takeoff the engine stopped. Time did not allow him to extend the landing gear and he landed gear up on the remaining runway. After exiting the aircraft he determined that the engine was on fire. Postcrash examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector indicated a securing clamp and cable on the turbocharger inlet pipe was not properly adjusted. The inlet pipe separated from the turbocharger and the escaping exhaust burned through the main fuel line to the engine and through the oil lines to the oil cooler. THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE PILOT DID NOT HAVE TIME TO EXTEND THE LANDING GEAR BEFORE LANDING BACK ON THE RUNWAY. AFTER THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT THEY NOTICED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. POST CRASH EXAMINATION BY FAA INSPECTORS REVEALED A SECURING CLAMP ON THE TURBOCHARGER INLET PIPE WAS NOT PROPERLY ADJUSTED AND THE INLET PIPE SEPARATED FROM THE TURBOCHARGER. THE ESCAPING EXHAUST BURNED THROUGH THE MAIN FUEL LINE TO THE ENGINE AND THROUGH THE OIL LINES TO THE OIL COOLER. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12