Sequence of Events
During a training flight, the aircraft was on the base leg of the approach when a loss of power occurred. The student pilot responded by selecting the right fuel tank and activating the fuel boost pump. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The instructor pilot then took control of the aircraft. Assessing the situation, the instructor determined that there was insufficient altitude to reach the runway and selected a road for a forced landing.
Shortly after touchdown on the road, the nose gear struck a berm. The impact sheared the nose gear, causing the aircraft to nosed over and come to rest inverted.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the aircraft revealed no abnormalities with the airframe or systems. Inspection of the fuel system found no usable fuel remaining in the right fuel tank. The left fuel tank contained approximately 20 gallons of fuel. The engine was test run satisfactorily after the accident, indicating no internal mechanical issues.