What happened
The aircraft encountered an engine failure while in the initial climb phase following takeoff. The loss of power resulted in the aircraft nosing over upon impact with the ground in an adjacent open field.
During the post-accident interview, the pilot explained that he had performed the engine runup using fuel from the right tank before switching to the left tank for departure. He recalled draining fuel samples from the right tank during preflight but could not confirm whether he had drained the left tank.
The investigation
A physical inspection of the aircraft revealed the presence of water contamination within the left fuel tank. This finding corroborated the pilot's account of switching tanks and suggested that the water in the left tank was the source of the engine malfunction.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to this accident was the pilot's failure to adequately drain the left fuel tank during preflight. The presence of water in the fuel system led to fuel contamination, which caused the engine failure and subsequent loss of control. This incident highlights the critical importance of checking all fuel sumps, not just the one used for runup.