Incident Overview
A pilot reported that while on final approach at approximately 150 to 200 feet above ground level, the engine lost power and would not restart. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot executed a landing about 50 feet short on soft terrain. During the landing, the landing gear collapsed and the aircraft sustained damage.
Fuel System Examination
Post-accident inspection revealed only about 12 ounces of fuel remaining in the left fuel tank, while 13 gallons were found in the right tank. During subsequent checks, 3 gallons of fuel were added to the left tank. Despite this addition, the engine would not start regardless of the fuel selector position.
When an independent fuel source was connected to the inlet fuel line, the engine started and operated normally. However, after reconnecting the engine to the aircraft's fuel system, it ran only briefly and would not restart, even though the fuel in the tanks exceeded the unusable level of 1.3 gallons per tank.
Boost Pump Testing
A test of the boost pump showed that at 23 psi, its flow rate was 9 gallons per hour. The pump specification called for a flow rate of 35 gallons per hour at 23 psi.