A PA38 pilot experienced an engine failure at 300 ft AGL during takeoff and successfully returned fo...

Attributes
ACN	955072
Time
Date	201106
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-38 Tomahawk
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Flight Plan	VFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Fuel Booster Pump
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15 Flight Crew Total 1000
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

Immediately after takeoff from 16R; at about 300 ft from the ground; I lost engine power. First; a hesitation followed by complete power loss. I declared an emergency with the tower controller and proceeded to make a left turn towards the parallel runway. I was cleared to land and landed on the last couple of hundred feet of 34R. On the ground; the engine seemed to behave normally again. An exhaustive examination by a mechanic ultimately revealed a faulty electric fuel pump. No signs of failure of the pump were observed; at first; during the initial examination by the mechanic; or during the preflight inspection; engine start-up; taxi; or engine run-up prior to takeoff.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA38 pilot experienced an engine failure at 300 FT AGL during takeoff and successfully returned for landing on the parallel runway. The engine began running normally once back on the ground. An exhaustive examination by a mechanic ultimately revealed a faulty electric fuel pump.

Narrative: Immediately after takeoff from 16R; at about 300 FT from the ground; I lost engine power. First; a hesitation followed by complete power loss. I declared an emergency with the Tower Controller and proceeded to make a left turn towards the parallel runway. I was cleared to land and landed on the last couple of hundred feet of 34R. On the ground; the engine seemed to behave normally again. An exhaustive examination by a mechanic ultimately revealed a faulty electric fuel pump. No signs of failure of the pump were observed; at first; during the initial examination by the mechanic; or during the preflight inspection; engine start-up; taxi; or engine run-up prior to takeoff.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

A PA38 pilot experienced an engine failure at 300 ft AGL during takeoff and successfully returned for landing on the parallel runway. The engine began running normally once back on the ground. An exhaustive examination by a mechanic ultimately revealed a faulty electric fuel pump.