What happened
During the en route phase of flight, the pilot selected both inboard fuel tanks, at which point the right engine began to cough and surge. The pilot attempted to reposition the selector valve to the outboard tanks, but the surging continued. The pilot did not secure the right engine or feather the propeller and instead diverted to an alternate airport.
During the approach, the aircraft's airspeed was too fast and its altitude was too high to negotiate the runway. The pilot executed a go-around and applied full power to both engines; however, the right engine began to lose power, preventing the airplane from gaining sufficient altitude to return to the airport. The pilot elected to land on a dirt road. During the landing roll, the right wing struck a tree.
The investigation
An examination of the fuel system revealed that the right fuel selector valve linkage was bent, which caused the valve to be positioned slightly off the off position.