What happened
Following a takeoff from the water, the pilot of a float-equipped airplane began an initial climb. At an altitude of approximately 200 feet, the aircraft initiated a right turn, at which point the engine experienced a loss of power. In an attempt to restore power, the pilot transitioned to a different fuel tank and performed restart procedures, but the engine failed to respond effectively.
During the subsequent descent, the aircraft collided with trees, and the right wing made contact with the terrain. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. While the pilot reported no prior mechanical malfunctions that should have prevented standard operation, passengers noted that the engine appeared to regain power after the fuel source was switched, though the aircraft had already struck the trees.
Findings
An investigation into the incident revealed that the fuel tank selected for the takeoff was empty. The pilot identified the empty center tank as the reason for the power loss during the climb. As a result of the event, the pilot recommended stricter adherence to established checklists during flight operations.