What happened
Approximately 15 minutes after departing from a private airstrip, the engine lost power. Prior to takeoff, the pilot had refueled the aircraft using above-ground fuel tanks located at the private airstrip, a site also utilized by an aerial application operator. Following the loss of power, the pilot attempted to restore engine operation by pumping the throttle and checking both the fuel valve and the magnetos, but these actions were unsuccessful. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing, during which the aircraft impacted soft terrain.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and its engine following the accident. No mechanical failure or malfunction capable of causing the loss of engine power was identified during the inspection. Additionally, there were no reports of issues involving other aircraft that had been refueled from the same source at the airstrip. During the investigation, fuel was added to the header tank, and the engine was started, running successfully up to 1,500 rpm before being shut down by a mechanic.