Incident Overview
During a flight at 1,000 feet in level flight, the engine ceased operating. The pilot turned the aircraft toward the beach and aligned with DBIA runway 27. He attempted to restart the engine twice without success. Subsequently, he landed the aircraft in the ocean approximately 150 yards from the shore, in about 11 feet of water.
Post-Accident Examination
The aircraft was recovered after about two days in the ocean. An FAA inspector and a representative from the engine manufacturer conducted a postaccident examination. According to their findings, the examination did not reveal any evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunctions.
Additionally, the NTSB examined the carburetor, electric boost fuel pump, and the engine-driven fuel pump. No anomalies were found in any of these components.