NYC96LA096

Water was found in the fuel tanks during preflight, and additional draining was accomplished until no more water appeared. The pilots boarded the airplane and initiated a takeoff, at which time, the engine sputtered, and the takeoff was aborted. After the airplane cleared the runway, the engine lost total power; attempts to restart it were unsuccessful. The airplane was pushed to the operator's hangar where the operator inspected the airplane. Additional water was found in the tanks, which was drained, then the engine was run. The operator said the airplane was, '...OK to fly...', and the pilots boarded the airplane for departure. Once they were airborne, about 200 feet high, the engine lost power. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a power line and descended to the ground where it nosed over. When the airplane was placed upright, additional water was found in the tanks. Examination of the fuel farm, where the airplane was refueled, revealed the filter was collapsed, and the fuel was contaminated with water. The FAA reported the operator did not have a fuel management program in place or the appropriate equipment to maintain a fuel farm. According to the airplane manufacturer, '...If excessive sampling is required, the recommended procedure is to completely defuel, drain and clean the airplane fuel system, and attempt to discover where and how the contamination originated before the airplane flys again....'

On May 5, 1996, at 1017 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N25414, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Harwinton, Connecticut. The commercial pilot/flight instructor and pre-solo student pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local dual instruction flight, which originated at Mountain Meadows Airstrip, Harwinton, about 1 minute prior to the accident, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a written statement, the flight instructor reported that during the pre-flight examination of the airplane, water was found in the fuel tanks by the student pilot. The student pilot continued to drain the sumps until no more water was found. On takeoff roll, the engine sputtered and the takeoff was aborted. As the airplane rolled clear of the runway, the engine quit. Unable to restart the engine, the pilots pushed the airplane back to the hanger where it was inspected by the owner who was a licensed aircraft mechanic. Additional water was drained from the tanks, and then the engine was run. According to the flight instructor, the mechanic told the pilots, "...it was OK to fly...." The pilots then taxied for departure again, and after becoming airborne, and at about 200 feet high, the engine lost power. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a power line and landed nose low in a field and nosed over.

According to an FAA written report, After the airplane was placed upright, additional amounts of water were found when the wing tanks were drained. The airplane had been refueled with 16.5 gallons on May 4, 1996, along with two other aircraft. A check of the other aircraft found water in their tanks. A check of the fuel farm found the fuel filter was collapsed, and bypassing water.

The FAA report also stated, "...The operator didn't have a fuel management program in place and no fuel sumping records were found. The operator did not have the appropriate equipment to maintain a fuel farm or appear to have the training required to operate a fuel farm safely."

According to the Cessna Pilot Safety and Warning Supplement; Proper Sampling from Quick Drains; "...If excessive sampling is required, the recommended procedure is to completely defuel, drain and clean the airplane fuel system, and attempt to discover where or how the contamination originated before the airplane flys again...."

Although the pilot referred to the owner as a "...licensed aircraft mechanic....", the FAA reported that he did not hold a mechanic certificate.