Synopsis
The pilot of a single-engine aircraft reported that approximately 25 minutes after departure, the engine lost power. The pilot performed an emergency landing in a plowed field, during which the aircraft nosed over.
Investigation Findings
During the post-accident investigation, only traces of fuel were found in the aircraft. No evidence indicated that fuel had drained from the tanks at the crash site, aside from the fact that the aircraft was inverted. The aircraft had flown a total of 9.3 hours since it was last known to have been refueled. The aircraft's fuel capacity was 81 gallons, and according to the owner's manual, normal fuel consumption was approximately 9 gallons per hour.
The pilot reported that prior to the flight, he did not visually check the fuel level but relied on the fuel gauges, which indicated that the fuel tanks were full.