What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Departure from unnamed lake climbing to approximately 150 feet above the ground, engine lost power. Pilot moved fuel selector lever from the right (primary) tank to the left (reserve) tank. Engine ran momentarily for several seconds and again lost power. Aircraft descended straight and level and impacted trees damaging floats, fuselage, both wings, and propeller. Pilot exited aircraft without injuries. Pilot stated fuel gauge on instrument panel indicated 10 gallons fuel remaining in both tanks. During wing disassembly, mechanic visually inspected fuel tanks and verified the right tank empty and the left tank having approximately 2-3 gallons remaining.
As the FAA filed it
DEPARTURE FROM UNNAMED LAKE CLIMBING TO APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, ENGINE LOST POWER. PILOT MOVED FUEL SELECTOR LEVER FROM THE RIGHT (PRIMARY) TANK TO THE LEFT (RESERVE) TANK. ENGINE RAN MOMENTARILY FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND AGAIN LOST POWER. AIRCRAFT DESCENDED STRAIGHT AND LEVEL AND IMPACTED TREES DAMAGING FLOATS, FUSELAGE, BOTH WINGS, AND PROPELLER. PILOT EXITED AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURIES. PILOT STATED FUEL GAUGE ON INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED 10 GALLONS FUEL REMAINING IN BOTH TANKS. DURING WING DISASSEMBLY, MECHANIC VISUALLY INSPECTED FUEL TANKS AND VERIFIED THE RIGHT TANK EMPTY AND THE LEFT TANK HAVING APPROXIMATELY 2-3 GALLONS REMAINING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.