Accident Overview
On July 25, 2019, at about 1140 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152 (registration N47028) was substantially damaged during a rejected takeoff at Wakefield Municipal Airport (AKQ) in Wakefield, Virginia. The solo private pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed for the local flight.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported that before his first flight of the day from Norfolk International Airport (ORF), he performed a preflight inspection. He checked each fuel tank, which were full. During sump testing of the right main fuel tank, he obtained seven samples until the sample was clear and free of water. He also checked the fuel strainer and a belly drain, finding no water in those samples.
The pilot flew from ORF to AKQ without incident, intending to perform touch-and-go landings on runway 20 (4,337 ft long asphalt runway). During the takeoff phase of the first touch-and-go landing, at about 25 feet above ground level, the engine sputtered. The pilot landed on the remaining portion of the runway, near the departure end. Realizing there was insufficient runway to stop, he turned the airplane left, and it impacted a perimeter fence before coming to rest upright. The pilot stated there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and found damage to the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer. The inspector recovered fuel containing water from three sources: the carburetor, the belly sump, and the firewall sump. Additionally, a gray putty substance was observed around the right wing fuel cap gasket, which did not appear to be an approved repair. The inspector noted that prior to the accident, the airplane had sat outside in rain.