What happened
During a take-off sequence, an aircraft reached the end of a lake and climbed to approximately 350 feet above the ground. At this altitude, the engine began to sputter and lost power. As the pilot attempted a right-hand turn, the engine regained power briefly, but a second power loss occurred roughly half a mile later. During this second failure, the aircraft entered a right turn, the nose pitched downward, and the aircraft entered a spin. The impact resulted in the aircraft being destroyed by fire, and both occupants sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
Investigators determined that the engine failure was caused by the presence of water in the fuel. The pilot had refuelled the aircraft using a drum that contained water contamination, and the process was performed without the use of a filter or a water trap. Additionally, the investigation noted that the aircraft was overloaded by approximately 200 lbs at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was water in the fuel.
- The aircraft was operating significantly above its weight limits.
- The lack of filtration during the refueling process allowed contaminants to enter the fuel system.