What happened
The pilot reported that the engine stopped operating while he was in the process of switching the fuel supply to the right tank. After the engine quit, he attempted to restart it but was unsuccessful. Consequently, he initiated a forced landing in an open field. During the landing sequence, the landing gear collapsed, which resulted in damage to the wings and flaps.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed significant discrepancies in the fuel quantities between the tanks. Investigators found over 40 gallons of fuel remaining in the right fuel tank. In contrast, only approximately 2 gallons were located in the left tank.
Findings
The engine failure occurred during a critical phase of flight management involving fuel system configuration. The subsequent collapse of the landing gear during the forced landing caused structural damage to the airframe components.