19980912023759A

Bannertowing acft experienced engine failure and crashed in a grass field. (.19) on September 12, 1998, about 1610 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150E, N6080T, collided with the terrain during an uncontrolled descent in bradenton, Florida. The business flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of title 14 CFR part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the student pilot and passenger, who was a certified flight instructor, were not injured. The flight originated from a private field just prior to the accident. According to the pilot/operator, about 1600 on September 12, he was preparing to take another pilot on a familiarization flight to demonstrate his company's flight operations. The second pilot handled the preflight inspection. The pilot observed the inspection, but did not notice any water being drained from the fuel tanks. The first pilot, who was a student rated pilot, stated that he was the pilot in command (PIC) and planned to depart the field to the east, and climb to an altitude around 400-500 feet. He also stated that his airplane was a 180 horse power conversion and, it should not be flown by an inexperienced pilot from a soft field. The engine was running fine and the takeoff was normal. About 50-100 feet above ground level (AGL) the pilot stated that it was like someone had "pulled the throttle back" and the engine quit. Due to trees on the extended centerline of the turf runway, the pilot put the airplane in a left turn. After turning about 45 degrees, he stated that the two men "became passengers" as the airplane descended and crashed in a field. (-23) the following is a report concerning the accident involving N6080T a Cessna 150 at manatee, Florida that took place on September 12, 1998. My name is j. robert blake. I am employed as an aviation safety inspector by the federal aviation administration at the tampa, Florida, flight standards district office. On September 14, 1998, I investigated the above aircraft's accident. The following items were noted: the left main landing gear departed the aircraft and struck the left horizontal stabilizer, the cowling was removed and it was discovered that fire wall was buckled on both the left an d the right side, all flight controls were connected and moved in the proper direction, upon draining fuel from the gascolator it was discovered there was water mixed with the fuel. In addition, there was water in the fuel sumped from the left wing fuel tank.