Incident Overview
A pilot reported that while on downwind, he switched the fuel tank selector from the left tip tank to the left main tank. Shortly after the switch, the engine sputtered and then ceased operating. The pilot stated that he extended the glide as much as possible and subsequently touched down hard at the end of the runway.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the incident, the aircraft was examined by an aircraft maintenance facility located at the airport. According to the facility's report, no fuel was detected in the fuel line running from the firewall to the fuel pump, nor in the line from the fuel pump to the metering unit.
Operational Details
The pilot's account indicates that the fuel tank selection change was made during the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. The engine's sputtering and eventual loss of power occurred after this action, leading to the forced landing. The hard touchdown occurred on the runway surface, specifically at its far end.
The examination results highlight a lack of fuel presence in critical segments of the fuel system, but no further information regarding the cause of the fuel starvation or the condition of other components is available from the source.