Background
The airplane had been inactive for almost eight years. Extensive checks and servicing were performed to prepare it for a ferry flight to a nearby airport, where it was scheduled to undergo an annual inspection. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ferry permit. The night before the flight, the airplane was placed in a heated hangar.
Preflight and Ground Operations
During the preflight inspection the next morning, the pilot found 'a little water' in the gascolator and 'a tiny amount' in the right wing sump. He chose not to have the fuel drained and the airplane serviced with fresh fuel. He later told a local newspaper that he had drained the fuel system and thought he had removed all the water, 'but apparently it was not enough.'
The pilot was initially unsuccessful in starting the engine. After it was preheated, the engine started, and he performed 'an extended time warm up and extended pretakeoff run-up.'
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
Shortly after taking off, the engine lost 'complete power.' The pilot enriched the mixture and turned the auxiliary fuel pump first to LOW, then to HIGH. Power returned momentarily, but then the engine lost power again. The pilot did not have a chance to switch fuel tanks and instead concentrated on the forced landing. The airplane 'skimmed the tops of hills, went through a fence, nosed over, and tumbled 2 or 3 times.'
Post-Accident Examination
Later examination of the engine disclosed that the plunger in the fuel manifold was frozen in position, and there was ice in the chamber under the screen.