MIA99LA169

After takeoff the airplane's engine began to sputter, at an altitude of about 200 feet above the ground (agl), and corrective action by the pilot did not clear the problem. He elected to land in trees instead of straight ahead to avoid hitting wires. The pilot stated that the airplane 'had not flown in a week,' and during the preflight inspection of the airplane he drained the fuel tanks and said, '...some very small bits of junk ( about 3-4 < pin head size) were observed in [the] right tank containing 87 octane fuel. He drained about 1 1/2 pints until fuel ran clear. [The] engine was started on left tank (100 LL) which was full. Right tank noted 1/4 full....' The FAA inspector that examined the wreckage concluded that, '...after review of the aircraft records and extensive conversation with the pilot, it appeared that the aircraft...suffered some fuel contamination seeing how aircraft had been stored for awhile....'

On June 8, 1999, about 2013 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N76390, registered to an individual impacted with trees during a forced landing near Woodstock, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private-rated pilot reported no injuries. The flight had departed from the same airport about 30 minutes earlier.

The pilot said he had completed his sixth landing, and had taxied back to his house to tell his family he was going to leave the pattern and he would be back before dark. He said he never shut the engine down and was on takeoff when the airplane's engine began to sputter. When the engine started to sputter the flight was at an altitude of about 200 feet above the ground (agl). He checked to see that the fuel switch was on the left tank. He pumped the throttle, but the engine did not clear. He elected to land in trees instead of straight ahead to avoid hitting wires.

The pilot stated that the airplane "had not flown in a week" before the accident. After a preflight inspection of the airplane he drained the fuel tanks and stated, "...some very small bits of junk ( about 3-4 < pin head size) were observed in [the] right tank containing 87 octane fuel. Drained about 1 1/2 pints until fuel ran clear. Engine was started on left tank (100 LL) which was full. Right tank noted 1/4 full...."

According to the FAA inspector's statement, "...after review of the aircraft records and extensive conversation with the pilot, it appeared that the aircraft could have suffered some fuel contamination seeing how aircraft had been stored for awhile...."