Incident Summary
A pilot reported that shortly after passing Lakeland, Florida, the engine RPM began to fluctuate. The pilot selected the auxiliary fuel tanks, but the RPM continued to deteriorate. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot elected to perform a forced landing on a small lake.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that due to insufficient altitude to turn and land into the wind, the landing was made downwind. Upon touchdown, the aircraft flipped over and sank in approximately 14 feet of water.
Post-Accident Investigation
The engine was placed in a test stand and ran with no discrepancies noted. Because the aircraft had been immersed in water, the possibility of water in the fuel or fuel contamination could not be determined. Therefore, the nature of the engine malfunction as described by the pilot could not be determined.