What happened
A pilot was preparing to ferry an aircraft from a private airstorp to a maintenance facility. The aircraft had not been flown since 1989, and its last annual inspection occurred in 1988. Before departure, the pilot did not obtain a ferry permit.
In preparation for flight, the pilot performed several steps to clear the fuel system: he drained water from the fuel tanks, added several gallons of fuel to each tank, sloshed the fuel to move contaminants, drained the tanks again, and finally filled them to capacity. Following these actions, the pilot conducted two separate engine run-ups, during which no engine problems were identified.
The aircraft departed the airstrip heading east and climbed to an altitude between 120 and 200 feet above the ground. During this climb, the engine suddenly stopped running. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a field near a road; however, during the approach, the aircraft struck a power line and several trees. The impact caused the right wing to be torn from the fuselage. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
An FAA airworthiness inspector examined the fuel system components following the accident. The inspection revealed a small amount of water present in the left wing fuel drain, the header tank drain, and the gascolator drain.