What happened
Following a routine refueling stop, the aircraft departed the airport. Shortly after becoming airborne, the engine lost power while the aircraft was climbing between 150 feet and 200 feet above ground level. The pilot attempted to maintain control as the aircraft entered a steepening left bank. Unable to recover altitude, the aircraft struck trees and subsequently crashed in an open field located adjacent to the airport.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and conducted tests to determine the cause of the power loss. Continuity was verified for the flight controls, engine, electrical systems, and fuel system, indicating these components were intact prior to impact. However, the carburetor was found to be fractured. Examination of the fuel selector revealed it was positioned on the right tank; however, an imprint of the pointer indicated it had been in the 'OFF' position at some point during or before the flight.
The pilot reported having no memory of events beyond the refueling process. To test the significance of the selector position, tests were conducted in a similar aircraft with the fuel selector in the 'OFF' position. These tests yielded inconclusive results regarding whether this specific configuration would cause immediate power loss. No contaminants or water were found in the aircraft's fuel system or the source fuel.
Findings
The investigation determined that fuel exhaustion was the primary factor leading to the accident. The misalignment of the fuel selector prevented fuel from reaching the engine, despite the tank containing fuel. The fractured carburetor may have been a result of the impact or contributed to the failure, but the lack of fuel flow was the critical issue.