J3 Cub
Flight Crew Sea; Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 70; Flight Crew Total 1794; Flight Crew Type 20
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
Piper J-3 Cub on EDO floats departed water and suffered power loss at a low altitude and returned to land at departure point. Pilot had departed [state] previous day and was flying the plane to [another state]. Aircraft landed for a planned fuel stop prior to departure.Pilot completed a run-up and checklist items and had conducted step taxi to departure position at takeoff power settings prior to departure. Plane climbed to an altitude of approximately 500 feet AGL and 300 feet above a tree ridge at end of climbout before turning toward on course heading. Upon turning; the engine ceased producing power. Pilot employed carburetor heat; switched fuel tanks; and cycled magnetos with no resulting change in engine power production.Aircraft returned to area of departure and made initial contact with surface on the mudflats near the edge of the water body from which it departed. Aircraft continued across mudflats to the water; remaining upright on floats at all times. In the course of landing the left wing collided with an upright of an unoccupied boat slip. No damage was caused to boat slip. Observable damage was caused to outer left wing leading edge of the aircraft. Damage did not appear to be of a level to require major repair.Post flight sumping of right tank indicated some contaminants; however; no contamination was noted in post flight sumping of the plane's gascolator or left tank. Plane was able to be restarted after landing at idle and aircraft was moved from landing area to tie down area under its own power and control after landing.
Piper J-3 Cub pilot reported engine failure shortly after takeoff.