What happened
The pilot had just completed a power-off spiral maneuver, descending to approximately 200 feet above ground level. Power was then applied to the engine as the aircraft began to climb toward 500 feet above ground level. During this phase of flight, the engine suddenly quit operation.
Subsequently, the aircraft was damaged during a forced landing attempt. The exact location and circumstances of the impact are not detailed in the source text beyond the fact that damage occurred during this emergency landing procedure.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft's fuel system revealed that all fuel lines were found dry at the time of inspection. Additionally, the fuel boost pump was also found to be empty of fuel during the initial assessment.
However, further testing after the accident revealed that fuel was still present in the right wing tank. When the pump was operated post-accident, it successfully pumped fuel from this tank, confirming that fuel availability was not the ultimate issue but rather its delivery to the engine at the critical moment.
Findings
The sequence of events indicates a sudden loss of engine power during climb-out following a low-altitude maneuver. The presence of fuel in the right tank after the accident suggests that the fuel system contained usable fuel, but the dry lines and pump indicated a failure in fuel delivery or air ingestion at the time of the event.
The pilot's decision to apply power immediately after completing a power-off spiral at low altitude may have contributed to the situation, though no specific pilot error is stated. The mechanical findings point toward a disruption in fuel flow rather than total fuel exhaustion.