CIMARRON, NM, USA
N4006T
BEECH B23
THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AFTER A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENG POWER. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AFTER STARTING THE ENG THE PILOT TAXIED TO THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THE ENG QUIT. AFTER DRAINING THE SUMPS THE ENG RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS.THE ACFT THEN DEPARTED AND THE WITNESSES LEFT THE AIRPORT. NO ONE SAW THE ACDT. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ABOUT 3 HRS LATER. THE ACFT HAD BEEN PARKED AT THE AIRPORT FOR 11 DAYS WITH FUEL TANKS PARTIALLY FILLED. FUEL TANK CAP SEALS WERE DETERIORATED AND SEVERAL RAIN SHOWERS HAD OCCURRED AT THE AIRPORT DURING THE 11 DAYS. WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION.
THE PILOT TO PROPERLY PREFLIGHT HIS AIRCRAFT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES PROVIDED IN THE OPERATORS HANDBOOK THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER FOLLOWING TAKEOFF DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION CAUSED BY WATER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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