Accident Sequence
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing through an altitude of about 50 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated an emergency landing. During the landing, the airplane clipped some trees, touched down in a field, and slid until it impacted a row of trees.
Investigative Findings
An on-scene investigation revealed approximately one quart of water in the fuel system. Examination of the fuel tank filler necks showed corrosion, and the right tank fuel filler neck also exhibited pitting. When tested, the right fuel cap and seal area allowed leakage of an undeterminable amount of water. The fuel tank bladders were found to have wrinkles.
Maintenance History
The airplane's maintenance records indicated that Airworthiness Directives (AD) 84-10-01 and 83-13-01, which concern inspection of the fuel filler neck and seal area and the fuel tanks, were not performed during the last inspection.
Environmental and Operational Factors
The airplane was kept outside and had not been flown for several days before the accident. Snow had fallen on the previous day. The pilot reported conducting a thorough preflight inspection, which included draining the fuel tanks and checking for contamination; no contamination was evident.