Incident Overview
Approximately one hour and 15 minutes into the flight, the pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the engine began to lose power. After an unsuccessful attempt to restart the engine, the pilot executed a ditching into a lake. The aircraft was subsequently recovered from the lake.
Fuel System Examination
Following recovery, examination of the fuel tanks revealed contamination. The right fuel tank contained a mixture of fluid consisting of approximately half fuel and half water. The left fuel tank was completely filled with water. Further inspection of the fuel system disclosed the presence of a silicone-type sealant around the fuel tank bladder access panels. Additionally, fragments of sealant were found loose inside the fuel tank bladder.
Operational Context
The incident occurred during a routine training exercise involving touch-and-go landings. No further details regarding the aircraft type, registration, or operator were provided in the source. The pilot's actions following the power loss were limited to an unsuccessful restart attempt followed by a ditching. The environmental conditions at the time were not specified.
Post-Incident Findings
The source does not state a probable cause for the power loss. However, the presence of water in both fuel tanks and sealant fragments in the fuel system indicates contamination that likely affected engine performance. The investigation did not specify any injuries or fatalities, and no additional causal factors were identified.