Incident Narrative
During a flight, the takeoff and climb to 7,000 feet were conducted using fuel from the left tank. After leveling off, the pilot switched to the right fuel tank and remained on that tank for the initial cruise phase. The pilot then switched back to the left tank. Approximately 10 minutes later, the engine began to lose power, though all instrument readings remained normal. The pilot contacted Cleveland Center, declared an emergency, set the transponder to code 7700, and initiated a descent. Controllers provided vectors to the nearest airport. While descending into an undercast, the aircraft struck the tops of trees with its left wing. It then rolled to the left, impacted the ground, and came to rest inverted.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no evidence that would explain the partial loss of power. No other anomalies were found in the aircraft systems.