Event SEA88LA070

Factual narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT ABOUT 200 FEET AGL, A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ONTO A TURF FIELD NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. DURING LANDING THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER INVERTED. THE PILOT STATED TO FAA INSPECTORS THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD SET OUTSIDE WITH LESS THAN FULL FUEL. THE ACFT ON THE FLOATS HAS A SLIGHTLY NOSE LOW ATTITUDE WHICH PLACES WATER IN THE FUEL TANK AWAY FROM THE DRAIN LOW POINT. THE PLTS RECOMMENDATION FOR PREVENTION IS TO TILT THE FLOAT PLANE TO A FLYING ATTITUDE AND THEN DRAIN THE FUEL. FUEL SAMPLES TAKEN AFTER THE ACC SNOWED 20 PERCENT WATER IN THE RT TANK AND IN THE CARBURETOR. THE PLT STATED THAT RAIN HAD SEEPED INTO THE RT TANK THROUGH THE FILLER CAP. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12