What happened
During the initial climb phase of flight, the engine stopped running but subsequently restarted. This was followed by a total engine failure. In response to the loss of power, the pilot elected to perform a forced landing. During the descent toward the landing site, the aircraft struck trees.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage provided several details regarding the fuel system state. The right fuel tank was found to be empty, though investigators found no evidence of any fuel leakage. The left main fuel tank contained a half-full amount of fuel, and both auxiliary tanks were full.
Regarding the cockpit controls and components, the fuel selector valve switch was set to the OFF position. While the fuel boost pump was in the ON position, both the fuel strainer and the sump were void of any fuel. A mechanical examination of the engine and the airframe revealed no discrepancies.