What happened
The pilot arrived at Lake Havasu on the evening before the accident. Upon tying down the aircraft, all fuel tank doors were observed to be closed. During the preflight inspection the following day, prior to a flight to Torrance, the pilot discovered that the right auxiliary fuel tank door was open.
While en route to Torrance, the aircraft was utilizing the auxiliary fuel tank when the engine suffered a total loss of power. The pilot attempted emergency restart procedures, but they were unsuccessful. The pilot subsequently performed an emergency landing in an open field; the pilot was not injured.
The investigation
Post-accident examination revealed a cupful of sand inside the right auxiliary fuel tank. Sand contaminants were also identified within the right auxiliary fuel tank port. Additionally, investigators found that several injector nozzles were clogged with an unidentified substance.