What happened
The airplane had not been flown for over a year and was missing its required annual inspection. The pilot performed pre-flight checks, including draining the fuel sumps, and reported finding no visible contamination at that time. Shortly after takeoff, the engine began to sputter and eventually stopped completely. The pilot initiated a forced landing attempt but struck an irrigation ditch during the process. The impact caused the aircraft to flip forward into an inverted position.
Findings
Post-accident inspection confirmed the presence of contaminated fuel in the system. This contamination was the primary factor leading to the engine failure. The lack of recent flight activity and the missed annual inspection contributed to the condition of the fuel system, although the specific source of the contamination was not detailed beyond the physical evidence found during inspection.
Safety message
Regular maintenance and pre-flight inspections are critical, especially for aircraft that have been grounded for extended periods. Fuel contamination can occur even if initial visual checks appear normal, necessitating thorough verification before flight.