Incident Summary
A pilot filled the airplane's fuel tanks with 31 gallons of JP-5 from the operator's above-ground 8,000-gallon supply tank before departure. The pilot later stated that he did not sump the airplane's fuel tanks prior to taking off. After departure, while the airplane was at an altitude of 500 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restore engine power but was unsuccessful and executed an emergency landing on a dirt road. During the landing, the airplane collided with a dirt berm and spun into a ditch.
Fuel Contamination Findings
Examination of the airplane revealed significant water contamination. Approximately two quarts of water were retrieved from each wing tank, and about one pint of water was retrieved from the fuel filter bowl. The engine fuel filter was found saturated with water. These findings indicated that the fuel system had been compromised by water-contaminated fuel.
Supply Tank Examination
Investigation into the fuel supply tank itself also revealed water inside the tank and in the tank filter. The pilot noted that the supply tank had not been used to fuel any airplanes since before Hurricane Frances impacted the Belle Glade, Florida, area with heavy rain and high winds on September 5, 2004. Further inspection of the tank by the pilot showed that the vent lids could be lifted open, the pick-up tube for the nozzle extended to the bottom of the tank, and the tank lacked a means by which it could be sumped or drained from its lowest point. These characteristics may have allowed water to accumulate and enter the fuel supply.