What happened
During the initial climb at an altitude of approximately 150 feet AGL, the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot was unable to maneuver the aircraft to a suitable landing area, ultimately resulting in the plane striking the tops of trees.
The investigation
The investigation focused on recent maintenance performed on the fuel system. It was determined that the fuel selector valve had been recently replaced. To facilitate this maintenance, fuel from the tanks had been drained into 5-gallon cans and subsequently poured back into the wing tanks after the replacement was complete. Upon inspection, the gascolator was found to be filled with contamination. Investigators noted that only trace amounts of fuel were present forward of the gascolator and within the carburetor.
Findings
- The presence of contaminants in the gascolator following the refilling of the tanks from containers.
- The pilot's medical certificate had expired several years prior to the accident.
- The pilot had not completed a flight review in several years.