What happened
While operating in the landing traffic pattern for a local seaplane base, a float-equipped aircraft suffered a complete loss of engine power. In an attempt to manage the failure, the pilot performed an emergency landing within the backyard of a private home. During the descent and impact, the aircraft collided with trees and a deck railing, which caused significant structural damage to the left wing.
Findings
Investigation into the engine failure revealed a critical fuel management issue. At the time of the power loss, the pilot had the right wing tank selected for use and believed that tank contained approximately one-quarter of its capacity. Because the aircraft was at a low altitude and low airspeed during the landing pattern, the pilot determined there was insufficient time to switch the fuel selector to the belly tank to restore engine operation. Post-accident inspections of the fuel system showed that while the belly tank still contained roughly 18 gallons of fuel, the right wing tank was nearly empty, containing only about one quart of fuel.