Preflight and Preparation
Before departure, the pilot cleaned the airplane and checked the oil level, which was 7 quarts. He inspected the right wing fuel tank for contaminants, noted it was half full, and added 5 gallons of 100 low-lead fuel. He did not check the tank for contaminants after fueling. During the preflight, the pilot did not check the gascolator because he was unaware of its installation on the airplane. He started the engine by hand-propping and ran it for 5 to 6 minutes before shutting it down due to no indication on the ammeter. The discrepancy was traced to the alternator, and the pilot was advised to fly for one hour to see if the alternator would begin functioning, as the airplane had been idle for four months. He was also advised to perform idle taxiing and step taxiing to familiarize himself with the newly purchased airplane.
Departure and Engine Failure
The airplane was pushed into the water, the engine started, and the pilot idle-taxied for 5 to 10 minutes, followed by two step taxis across the lake. He applied power to 1,800 rpm and checked the magnetos and carburetor heat, reporting no discrepancies. After verifying the carburetor heat was off, he commenced takeoff. When approximately 200 to 300 feet remained before the end of the lake, the engine quit. Unable to restart due to a lack of electrical power, the pilot pumped the throttle in an unsuccessful attempt to restore power. With insufficient lake remaining to land ahead, he initiated a 180-degree turn. After completing the turn, he flared when the airplane was 10 feet above the water. The pilot later stated, "I think I stalled the aircraft at about 20 feet with a slight right wing down." The airplane impacted the water with a right wing low attitude, damaging the wing. The aircraft was towed to a public jetty, removed from the water, and transported to a facility for further examination.
Witness Observations
Several witnesses reported hearing a sputtering or rough running engine after the airplane became airborne, followed by the engine quitting. One witness, a pilot, observed that after the engine stopped, the pilot turned from northwest to south and began a "roundout to level off unusually high (approx 40 feet above water surface). The aircraft stalled [approximately 10 feet off the water resulting in right wing drop."
Post-Accident Examination
Post-accident examination by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed the gascolator was approximately half full of water. The carburetor bowl was not examined. The engine was removed from the airframe, placed on a test stand, and operated normally. The president of the facility that fueled the airplane last reported no contaminants in post-accident fuel samples taken from the fuel nozzle under pressure or from the fuel filter. A check of the fuel supply tank using water-finding paste was also negative. The pilot reported no mechanical failure or malfunction and noted a low point in the fuel system beneath the floorboards that prevented water from reaching the gascolator.