The Piper Tomahawk aircraft was being used to conduct a series
of touch-and-go landings during a dual instructional flight. During
the climb after the second takeoff, and when the aircraft was at a
height of about 200 ft, the engine failed without warning. The
instructor manoeuvred the aircraft to avoid landing in a lake
located just beyond the end of the runway and landed in an adjacent
paddock. Although the aircraft hit some low bushes during the
landing roll, the pilots were not injured and the aircraft was not
damaged.
The aircraft was moved to a maintenance facility and, prior to
conducting any maintenance or inspections, the engine was started
and ground-run without any obvious problems. The maintenance
inspection revealed a contact mark had been worn through the Teflon
coating of the wear area of the carburettor float needle. When the
carburettor was reassembled and tested, it was found that the
carburettor float needle would stick in the valve seat and prevent
fuel flowing into the carburettor bowl. The float needle and seat
were replaced, and the aircraft test-flown without further
incident.