What happened
During a ferry flight intended for the renewal of a Certificate of Airworthiness in Selkirk, Manitoba, a single-engine aircraft experienced a loss of power. The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft departed from an area near Libau.
Following the engine failure, the pilot initiated an emergency descent to land in an unoccupied field. During the approach to the landing site, the aircraft's floats made contact with an elevated roadway. This impact caused the float brackets to break. The aircraft eventually came to a stop resting on its left float and right wing.
There was only one person on board, the pilot, who escaped the accident without any injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the mechanical failure revealed that the engine stopped running because of fuel starvation. This condition was triggered by a blockage within the fuel selector valve, which had been caused by internal corrosion. Subsequent inspections of the aircraft identified multiple discrepancies that indicated the plane was not in an airworthy condition for the intended flight.