Background
The aircraft had been operating for over one hour without refueling, even though fuel was available at the previous stop. The pilot was approximately 5 miles from the destination when the engine lost power.
Events
While maneuvering over a ridge line, the engine quit. The pilot stated that the fuel gauges indicated 6 gallons of fuel remaining. However, of that amount, about 2 gallons are unusable during level cruise, and a greater quantity becomes unusable when maneuvering.
Fuel System
Flameout can occur from a fuel flow interruption caused by fuel sloshing during maneuvers. The engine would not restart without an ignition source such as an auto-relight system, which this aircraft did not have. The pilot did not mention any attempts to restart the engine.
Post-Accident Findings
An FAA inspector drained the aircraft after the accident and reported that about 4 gallons of fuel were on board.