Incident Overview
During the final approach segment of the flight, at an altitude of approximately 500 feet, the engine experienced a complete loss of power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. In the subsequent forced landing procedure, the airplane collided with a fence and a guy wire.
Postcrash Examination
An examination of the engine conducted by an FAA inspector after the accident revealed several issues with the carburetor. The carburetor was contaminated with rust, a small amount of water, and dirt. Additionally, the fuel shutoff valve seat within the carburetor exhibited corrosion. This corrosion prevented the shutoff valve seat from seating properly, which allowed the carburetor bowl to overfill. The overfilling condition subsequently flooded the engine, leading to the power loss.
Conclusion
The investigation determined that the engine power loss was caused by carburetor contamination and corrosion, specifically the corroded fuel shutoff valve seat that failed to seat, resulting in carburetor bowl overfill and engine flooding.