Accident Sequence
During cruise flight over the Long Island Sound, the airplane suffered a complete loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but it would not restart. Unable to maintain altitude or sufficient airspeed to reach land, the pilot executed a ditching in the Long Island Sound.
Investigation
After recovery from the water, a thorough inspection of the airframe revealed no anomalies. The fuel system inspection showed that the fuel tanks contained only one gallon of fuel. The gascultor, a component in the fuel system, was found to contain exclusively water, indicating contamination. The engine was examined separately; the oil was changed, and then the engine was started and ran without any noted abnormalities.
Findings
According to the operator's maintenance records and the airplane's hour meter reading taken after the accident, the aircraft had flown approximately 3.4 hours since its last refueling. No other discrepancies or malfunctions were identified in the airframe or engine.