What happened
A pilot was requested by one of the aircraft owners to perform a ferry flight. Upon arriving to collect the aircraft, the pilot discovered that the right engine had been shut down during the preceding flight. At that time, the pilot noted that the right fuel tank was empty and the left tank contained approximately 20 gallons of fuel.
The pilot subsequently loaded 50 gallons of fuel into each tank, having determined that the planned flight would only require 50 gallons total. While descending into Lake Elsinore, the first engine failed, followed quickly by the second engine. The pilot was forced to land the aircraft in a field.
The investigation
FAA inspectors examined the aircraft and confirmed that the right fuel tank contained no fuel, while the left tank contained approximately 50 gallons. No other mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified during the inspection.
An owner of the aircraft, who was in the process of repossessing the plane from a partner, stated they had been informed that due to a previous pump failure, another owner had rigged the aircraft so that both engines would be supplied by the right fuel tank. This modification was unknown to both the pilot and the owner performing the repossession.