Incident Overview
During the climb to cruise altitude, the aircraft suffered a complete loss of power. The pilot executed a forced landing, during which the aircraft collided with trees. Post-accident investigation revealed the circumstances leading to the power loss.
Fuel System Examination
Investigation found that the fuel selector was positioned on the left tank, which was empty. The right tank contained approximately 20 gallons of fuel. No fuel was present in the fuel lines supplying the engine from the selected tank. The pilot stated that after the power loss, he recalled turning on the booster pump but did not remember changing the fuel selector.
Preflight Actions and Fueling History
According to records, the pilot did not check the fuel selector position prior to takeoff and did not refuel the aircraft. The last documented fueling occurred on September 20, 1983, and there were no records of flights or flight time logged since that date.
Post-Accident Engine Test
Following the accident, the engine was successfully run, indicating that the engine itself was not the source of the power loss. The absence of fuel in the lines from the selected tank confirmed that fuel starvation caused the power loss.