What happened
The incident occurred approximately twenty minutes after the aircraft departed. During this phase of flight, the pilot encountered a sudden loss of engine power. In an attempt to restore engine function, the pilot cycled the fuel selector switch between the right and left tanks multiple times. This action was performed while the aircraft was being maneuvered for a forced landing.
Despite these efforts, the engine did not regain power. The aircraft eventually landed forcibly. Post-accident inspection of the fuel system revealed that the right tank and the fuel strainer bowl were completely empty. The left tank retained approximately five gallons of fuel.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft's fuel system confirmed the lack of fuel supply to the engine at the time of the power loss. The right tank was found devoid of fuel, as was the fuel strainer bowl. Only a small amount of fuel remained in the left tank, indicating that the primary fuel source had been exhausted before the incident.