What happened
A private pilot was engaged to ferry an aircraft that had been recently purchased. The pilot reported that the airplane had remained grounded for approximately two weeks prior to the flight. Before attempting to fly, the pilot refueled the aircraft and performed a visual inspection of the fuel tanks to check for water contamination.
Following takeoff, the engine failed at an altitude of about 200 feet above the ground. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the roof of a nearby shopping mall.
The investigation
A postaccident examination of the fuel system and the carburetor bowl revealed the presence of water. This finding indicated that water contamination was present in the fuel supply despite the pilot's preflight checks.
Findings
The engine failure was directly attributed to water in the fuel system, which disrupted combustion. The pilot's preflight inspection failed to detect this contamination, leading to the loss of power shortly after departure.