Incident Description
The pilot reported that the engine lost power while on final approach for landing. An attempt to restart the engine was unsuccessful, and a forced landing was executed straight ahead. The airplane subsequently collided with trees and the ground.
Post-Accident Examination
Review of the airplane's log books indicated that the airplane had flown for 1.1 hours since the last annual inspection. An examination conducted by the FAA revealed that both the left and right fuel tanks contained fuel. However, the header fuel tank was dry and exhibited signs of brown corrosion, which was attributed to tank sealant. The gascolator was half full of fuel and was contaminated with a brown substance that appeared to be fuel tank sealant. The gascolator was disassembled, and the brown substance was observed to dry and turn into a very sticky material.
The carburetor was found broken off the intake manifold, and the fuel line to the carburetor was also broken. Disassembly of the carburetor showed that the fuel screen was clean with no evidence of fuel. The engine-driven fuel pump was examined and no anomalies were noted. Fuel lines were checked and no blockage was present.
Annual Inspection Findings
The mechanic who performed the annual inspection stated that during the inspection, he noticed the gascolator was about three-fourths full of a dark brown liquid that was clearly separate from the fuel, which was on top of the liquid. The checklist used by the mechanic indicated that the gascolator screen and bowl were checked for safety.
FAA Conclusion
The FAA concluded that the contamination in the fuel system reduced the fuel flow to the carburetor, resulting in fuel starvation.