Accident Overview
According to the pilot, the aircraft departed from Everglades City for Naples. At departure, the left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank indicated half full. The flight to Naples took approximately 15 minutes. The pilot then initiated the return flight at 1047 hours.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
During the return flight, at 1100 hours, the engine quit. The pilot made a forced landing in a mangrove swamp.
Inspection Findings
Following the accident, examination of the fuel system revealed that the left tank was empty, while the right tank contained about 2 gallons of fuel. The fuel primer line 'B' nut at the firewall was missing, and the line was leaking. No evidence of any pre-impact or mechanical engine problems was found.