Engine Failure During Missed Approach Leads to Forced Landing (N25EM)

What happened

The aircraft was engaged in a training maneuver involving a practice missed approach when the engine lost power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot executed a forced landing in an area characterized by rough terrain.

The investigation

Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed significant discrepancies in the fuel system components. The right fuel tank was found to be completely empty, while the left fuel tank contained approximately 25 gallons of fuel. Further inspection of the fuel selector valve identified mechanical defects: the selector lacked a positive stop at the 'off' position and had no detent for the right tank position. The detent that was present was located between the 'off' and 'right tank' positions, preventing proper selection.

Findings

The investigation determined that the engine failure was caused by fuel exhaustion. The root cause was traced to the fuel selector valve's inability to be positioned correctly over the right tank or fully off. This mechanical defect prevented the pilot from accessing the available fuel in the left tank or isolating the system as intended, leading to the loss of power during a critical phase of flight.