What happened
During a 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross-country flight, an airline transport pilot experienced a loss of engine power approximately 20 miles from the intended destination. The pilot noted that the symptoms were similar to fuel starvation, despite calculations indicating there should have been 30 minutes of fuel remaining.
The pilot performed a forced landing, during which the landing gear was torn off, causing structural damage to the fuselage. There were no injuries reported in the accident.
The investigation
Following the recovery of the aircraft, the engine was taken to an aircraft maintenance facility where it was prepared with clean fuel and a new propeller. During testing, the engine was started and operated through various power settings; no evidence of mechanical malfunction was found.
The pilot reported that prior to the accident, there were no known mechanical anomalies with the aircraft. However, the pilot noted that following the accident, substantial frost and ice buildup was observed around the left fuel vent. This buildup, along with fuel venting on the ground, suggested the presence of water in the fuel. While the pilot had drained the tanks before takeoff, it appeared that water remained trapped in the tanks.