Incident Overview
A flight experienced a total loss of power approximately five miles from the destination airport. The pilot reported that during the preflight inspection, the fuel tanks were not visually checked. The fuel tanks had been topped prior to departure. The forced landing resulted in the airplane going through a fence and the right wing striking a tree.
Fuel System Examination
Post-incident examination of the fuel system revealed zero fuel in the left tank and less than half a gallon in the right tank. An engine test run was conducted and no anomalies were found. The push-pull cable used for draining the fuel strainer was noted to be difficult to move. During two out of twenty to thirty movements, the cable failed to seat the fuel strainer, allowing fuel to seep from the strainer drain. However, examination of the drain area and airframe found no evidence of fuel stains.
Flight Details
The flight departed at 1835 and had a duration of approximately three hours and fifteen minutes. The pilot did not visually check the fuel tanks during the preflight, relying solely on the topping-off performed prior to departure.