What happened
Prior to a flight originating in the Bahamas bound for West Palm Beach, Florida, the pilot identified a malfunction with the quick-drain valve on the left fuel tank. Upon arrival at West Palm Beach, the decision was made to refuel only the right tank, as the pilot intended to replace the defective left quick-drain at a later date.
During the subsequent leg of the journey to Vero Beach, Florida, the aircraft began drawing fuel from the left tank. The engine initially exhibited hesitation. At this point, the left fuel gauge indicated a quantity of less than one-quarter full. The pilot inspected the magnetos and determined that the left magneto was running rough.
While attempting to compare the performance of both magnetos and contacting Vero Beach Tower, the engine power dropped to idle altitude approximately 1,000 feet. Believing the issue stemmed from a magneto failure rather than fuel starvation, the pilot continued switching between magnetos and delayed moving the fuel selector valve.
The pilot eventually executed a forced landing on a sandy area. During the impact, the right landing gear collapsed, and the right elevator sustained damage.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed that only a few ounces of fuel remained in the left tank, while a considerable amount of fuel was still present in the right tank. Additionally, water and dirt were discovered in the right tank, and approximately one ounce of water was found within the fuel lines.
Findings
The pilot's failure to refuel the left tank after identifying a mechanical issue with its quick-drain valve resulted in fuel exhaustion. The pilot's misdiagnosis of the engine hesitation as a magneto problem led to a delay in switching the fuel selector, preventing the recovery of power from the remaining fuel in the right tank.