Departure and Engine Failure
After departing from runway 18, the pilot reported that the engine began to sputter at approximately 350 feet above ground level. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot attempted a forced landing on a taxiway oriented perpendicular to the departure runway. The airplane subsequently struck trees and brush before impacting terrain about 250 feet short of the runway.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the airplane's fuel at the wreckage site using water-finding paste revealed the presence of water in the right main fuel tank. An engine test run showed that the engine would initially advance to 2,200 rpm but immediately dropped to 1,200 rpm. Further examination of the fuel system disclosed that the number 4 fuel injector nozzle was 70 percent obstructed with debris. Water was found in all fuel injectors, and the fuel servo screen was 30 percent obstructed with corrosion. After corrections to these discrepancies were performed, the engine was tested again with the same results.
Fuel Servo and Contamination
Examination of the fuel servo revealed that the fuel diaphragm chamber contained deposits of a white milky substance consistent with water contamination in the fuel. Additionally, a service bulletin requiring the unit to be overhauled had not been complied with.
Pilot Awareness and Recent Operations
The airplane had flown a total of 11.18 hours since the last annual inspection. The pilot was aware of water infiltration into the right wing fuel tank after heavy rain. On the day of the accident, the pilot stated that a tablespoon of water was sumped from the right wing. The pilot's flight logbook records indicated that the accident airplane flew on May 1, 10, and 11 before fueling on May 12, 2003, with 13.7 gallons of 100 LL aviation fuel.