At about 1345 Alaska standard time, an amateur-built Kolb Fire Star II lost engine power and crashed into trees after takeoff from Birchwood Airport. The pilot was not injured. The pilot said the airplane had been stored outside unused for two years. He made two successful touch-and-go landings, but the engine quit on the third takeoff at about 50 feet agl. An FAA inspector found both carburetor float bowls contained murky, silty and rust-colored fuel.
November 01, Chugiak, Alaska / Kolb Fire Star II
At about 1345 Alaska standard time, an amateur-built Kolb Fire Star II lost engine power and crashed into trees after takeoff from Birchwood Airport. The pilot was not injured. The pilot said the airplane had been stored outside unused for two years. He made two successful touch-and-go landings, but the engine quit on the third takeoff at about 50 feet agl. An FAA inspector found both carburetor float bowls contained murky, silty and rust-colored fuel....
Key Takeaways:
- An amateur-built Kolb Fire Star II crashed shortly after takeoff due to engine power loss, though the pilot was uninjured.
- An FAA inspection revealed the probable cause was contaminated fuel (murky, silty, and rust-colored) in the carburetor float bowls, following two years of the aircraft being stored unused.
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