What happened
The aircraft sustained substantial damage and was ultimately destroyed by fire following a forced landing at night in a private yard. The incident began when the engine surged and lost power while the aircraft was descending through an altitude of 4500 feet, well before reaching the intended destination. Prior to this event, the aircraft had been written up for sluggishness and a lack of response to throttle inputs upon arrival at Montgomery. Maintenance personnel at Montgomery Aviation performed checks and expressed suspicion regarding the fuel injectors. They claimed to have advised the pilot of the situation verbally, but no written documentation was provided to support these findings.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft wreckage revealed significant water contamination within the fuel lines and the distributor unit. This physical evidence pointed directly to a failure in the fuel system's integrity or maintenance procedures. The pilot stated that his standard practice involved draining the sumps only after refueling, rather than during the pre-flight inspection phase, where he typically only checked the fuel level. This procedural choice likely allowed water accumulation to go undetected before the flight.
Findings
The combination of engine performance issues reported prior to the flight and the discovery of water in critical fuel components indicates a failure to properly drain the fuel system. The lack of written communication from the previous maintenance provider meant that the known mechanical concerns were not formally addressed or documented for the pilot. The presence of water in the fuel lines compromised engine operation, leading to the power loss during descent and the subsequent forced landing.
Safety message
Pilots must ensure that fuel sumps are drained thoroughly during pre-flight inspections, regardless of recent refueling history. Maintenance providers should provide written documentation for any suspected mechanical issues to ensure clear communication with the pilot regarding airworthiness.