ERA12CA059

Factual narrative

The airplane had been fueled and then flown for about three hours and fifteen minutes prior to landing at a private landing strip. The pilot then departed from the private strip and was enroute to a nearby airport when the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot performed a forced landing into a reservoir, which resulted in substantial damage to the ailerons. The airplane came to rest upright and floated for several minutes, while the pilot egressed and was rescued by a local resident. After the airplane was recovered from the reservoir, about 20 gallons of fuel was drained from the right wing fuel tank. The left wing fuel tank was void of fuel and the fuel selector was selected to the left tank. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no other anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation. The airplane had been fueled and then flown for about 3.25 hours prior to landing at a private airstrip. After dropping off a passenger, the pilot departed from the private airstrip and was en route to a nearby airport when the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot performed a forced landing into a reservoir, which resulted in substantial damage to the ailerons. The airplane was recovered from the reservoir, and about 20 and 12 gallons of fluid were drained from the right and left wing fuel tanks, respectively. The fluid from the right tank was determined to be aviation fuel; however, the fluid from the left tank was determined to be water only and void of fuel. The fuel selector was selected to the left tank. The postaccident examination revealed no other anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Fuel system-Fuel selector/shutoff valve-Incorrect use/operation - C