Incident Summary
A pilot reported seeing fuel streaming from the trailing edge of the wings during flight. Shortly thereafter, the engine began losing power. The pilot attempted to keep the engine running by using the fuel primer but was unsuccessful. The aircraft subsequently performed a forced landing on mud flats. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and was damaged. The wings of the airplane were not recovered, as they disappeared with the tide, preventing a check of the fuel quantity.
Aircraft Modifications
The airplane had undergone an engine replacement. The original 145 horsepower engine had been swapped for a 200 horsepower engine. However, the original fuel caps with integral fuel system vents remained installed.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the aircraft after the accident showed that there was no fuel in the carburetor bowl. The absence of the wings due to the tide precluded any determination of the fuel quantity that had been onboard.