On December 1, 1984, a Cessna 175 (registration N7327M) was involved in an aviation accident near Bastrop, LA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Water contamination in the fuel, which resulted in engine failure during flight. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot drained water from fuel tanks and topped off the tanks before takeoff. Shortly after reaching 500 feet, the engine quit during initial climb, forcing a landing in a field due to water in the fuel.
What happened
Prior to flight, the pilot performed preflight checks that included draining a small amount of water from each wing tank. The main fuel strainer was also drained, and the fuel tanks were topped off with an additional 17 gallons of fuel. During the initial climb phase, approximately 500 feet above ground level, the engine stopped running. Subsequent attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. Consequently, the pilot executed a forced landing in a plowed field.
The investigation
The cause of the engine failure was determined through examination of the fuel system and operational history. The presence of water in the fuel system was identified as the primary factor leading to the loss of power.
Probable cause
Water contamination in the fuel, which resulted in engine failure during flight.