What happened
The incident occurred during the initial climb phase of flight following takeoff. The pilot reported that the engine suffered a sudden loss of power. The aircraft subsequently crashed, resulting in significant damage to the airframe.
The investigation
A thorough post-accident inspection of the wreckage was conducted to determine the cause of the failure. Investigators examined the engine and fuel system for signs of mechanical failure or external interference.
During the examination, no smell of fuel was detected on or around the wreckage. Additionally, there was no evidence of a fuel spill on the ground near the crash site. This absence of fuel odor and surface spillage suggested that a major fuel line rupture prior to impact was unlikely.
Findings
The most critical finding came from the fuel system analysis. Only unusable fuel was found remaining in the tank at the time of the inspection. No other mechanical anomalies were identified during the post-accident examination, indicating that the engine itself did not suffer from internal mechanical failure prior to the power loss.
The combination of a complete loss of power during climb and the presence of only unusable fuel points directly to fuel starvation as the primary factor in the accident. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude due to the lack of fuel supply to the engine.