What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot stated that he sealed the wing fuel tank filler necks and prior to flight he noticed that the sealant was still wet before the flight. During the flight he had the left wing tank selected and during cruise the engine cut out and before he could switch tanks and restart the engine he collided with the trees. The pilot stated that he thinks when he sealed the filler necks he might of sealed the vent for the wing fuel tanks. On 6/18/2008, contacted the pilot and he recovered the wings and did verify that the wing tank fuel cap vents were restricting air from entering the fuel tanks which in case caused the engine to quit in flight. The consistency of the sealant allowed it to flow in to the fuel tank vent and restrict the vent.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT STATED THAT HE SEALED THE WING FUEL TANK FILLER NECKS AND PRIOR TO FLIGHT HE NOTICED THAT THE SEALANT WAS STILL WET BEFORE THE FLIGHT. DURING THE FLIGHT HE HAD THE LEFT WING TANK SELECTED AND DURING CRUISE THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND BEFORE HE COULD SWITCH TANKS AND RESTART THE ENGINE HE COLLIDED WITH THE TREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THINKS WHEN HE SEALED THE FILLER NECKS HE MIGHT OF SEALED THE VENT FOR THE WING FUEL TANKS. ON 6/18/2008, CONTACTED THE PILOT AND HE RECOVERED THE WINGS AND DID VERIFY THAT THE WING TANK FUEL CAP VENTS WERE RESTRICTING AIR FROM ENTERING THE FUEL TANKS WHICH IN CASE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO QUIT IN FLIGHT. THE CONSISTENCY OF THE SEALANT ALLOWED IT TO FLOW IN TO THE FUEL TANK VENT AND RESTRICT THE VENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.