What happened
During the initial climb phase of takeoff, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of engine power. This failure necessitated a forced landing, during which the aircraft collided with trees.
The pilot reported that 20 gallons of fuel had been purchased from the airport immediately prior to departure. Following the accident, responding fire department personnel arrived on the scene and were required to shut off the fuel valve to manage a leak in a fuel line.
The investigation
An FAA inspector conducted an examination of the aircraft and reported finding no discrepancies with the mechanical systems. To investigate potential contamination, laboratory analysis was performed on fuel samples collected from the aircraft's tanks, the carburetor, and the airport fuel truck used for refueling. The laboratory results confirmed that all tested fuel samples were consistent with aviation gasoline and contained no significant water or other contaminants.