What happened
A private pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were departing from an airport in an amphibian-float equipped airplane for the pilot's first flight in the newly purchased aircraft. During the takeoff and initial climb, the pilot reported that while the engine appeared to be producing full power, the aircraft would not climb above 400 feet above the ground. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot attempted an emergency landing on a city street. During the descent, the aircraft collided with a power line and an unoccupied residence, eventually coming to rest inverted in the driveway of the home. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
An inspection of the aircraft's fuel system revealed significant contamination. Investigators found a partial blockage of the fuel injection fuel controller screen and a partial blockage of the fuel injection distributor screen. Additionally, rust and water were discovered within the engine-driven fuel pump and the fuel injector manifold. During the investigation, the identified components were cleaned and excessively worn spark plugs were replaced. Following these repairs, an engine test run was performed using a club test propeller; the engine started and operated at various power settings, reaching a maximum of 2,500 rpm without further mechanical anomalies.
Maintenance records indicated that the aircraft had flown approximately 58 service hours over the previous 2.5 years. The pilot noted that a pre-purchase inspection had not been conducted for the aircraft. Furthermore, the annual inspection was scheduled to be due six days after the accident; the pilot expressed a desire to have completed this inspection prior to the flight, but stated the maintenance shop could not accommodate the request in time.
Findings
- The fuel system contained water and rust, leading to fuel system contamination.
- Contamination caused partial blockages in the fuel injection controller and distributor screens.
- The pilot in command is responsible for ensuring an aircraft is in an airworthy condition prior to operation per Federal Air Regulation section 91.7.