Accident Details
The private pilot/owner 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 takeoff and initial climb, the engine appeared to produce full power, but the airplane would not climb above 400 feet above ground level. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and headed for a city street to perform an emergency landing. The airplane subsequently collided with a power line and an unoccupied residence, coming to rest inverted in the residence's driveway.
Fuel System Inspection
Post-accident examination of the fuel system revealed significant contamination. The fuel injection fuel controller screen was partially blocked, as was the fuel injection distributor screen. Rust and water were present in the fuel injector manifold and the engine-driven fuel pump. Prior to an engine test run, the contaminated components were cleaned, and two excessively worn spark plugs were replaced. With these corrections, the engine started and ran at various power settings, achieving a maximum of 2,500 rpm with a club test propeller, without any observed mechanical anomalies.
Maintenance History
The airplane's annual inspection was due six days after the accident flight. The pilot/owner indicated that he had wanted the inspection performed before the flight, but the aviation maintenance shop could not schedule it in time. The pilot noted that a prepurchase inspection had not been conducted. A review of the maintenance logs showed that the airplane had accumulated about 58 service hours in the previous 2.5 years.
Regulatory Context
Federal Air Regulation Section 91.7 states that the pilot in command is responsible for determining that the aircraft is in an airworthy condition prior to operation.