Occurrence
On 18 June 2022, at approximately 11:00 local time, a German citizen holding a PPL(A) license arrived at Brzeska Wola airfield (EPBI) with the intention of conducting a solo navigation flight to build flight time. The aircraft, a Cessna F 150M registered as SP-CBE, was refueled and a preflight inspection was performed. During the inspection, the pilot found trace amounts of water in one of the fuel sump drains from the tank. After draining additional fuel, no water was detected.
After entering the cockpit, the pilot started the engine and taxied to the runway. During taxi, uneven engine operation was noted. The pilot performed two engine run-ups, both of which were considered satisfactory.
Takeoff was conducted from the full length of Runway 28. After reaching an altitude of approximately 800 to 1000 feet above ground level, the engine lost power and level flight could no longer be maintained. The pilot assessed that a return to the airfield was not possible due to a forest area ahead. An emergency landing was executed on a forest clearing. After a ground roll of about 120 meters, the aircraft struck a tree with the left wing, resulting in an uncontrolled 90-degree rotation. The aircraft sustained serious damage; the pilot reported no injuries. Emergency services were notified.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The investigation identified the following causes and contributing factors: 1. Loss of engine power after takeoff and uneven engine operation, which prevented continued flight. 2. Probable water contamination of the aircraft fuel, despite positive results from two engine run-ups.
Preventive Actions
The investigating entity proposed and implemented the following preventive actions, which were accepted by the commission:
- Pilots who refuel the aircraft themselves should report this fact to the operator before the flight.
- To reduce the possibility of water condensation in the fuel tanks, the operator introduced a requirement to refuel aircraft to full capacity after each flight.
No safety recommendations were issued.