What happened
Following takeoff, the aircraft was climbing over a 12,000 foot mountain range when the pilot reported that the engine was not producing sufficient power. In response to the loss of performance, the pilot elected to turn the aircraft toward lower terrain. During this maneuver, the engine suffered a total failure.
The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing in an area of high vegetation located next to a hay field. As the aircraft slid during the landing, the left wing struck a ditch.
The investigation
An examination of the fuel system revealed that there was no fuel present in the lines or the strainer, and only traces of fuel were found within the fuel control unit. Despite these findings, a test run of the engine resulted in normal operation.
While the fuel lines were empty, the salvage crew noted that the wings contained what was described as adequate fuel for operation. Additionally, the hay field where the landing occurred was determined to be suitable for a normal landing.