Incident Overview
A cross-country flight was planned from Richard Lloyd Jones Airport (RVS) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Before departure, the airplane's left fuel tank was serviced with 12 gallons of fuel. After takeoff, as the airplane reached approximately 450 to 500 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. The pilot then shut the fuel off and set up for a landing.
Forced Landing and Damage
The landing was performed on a golf course. During touchdown, the landing gear collapsed. Examination after the event revealed damage to the left wing and separation of the nose landing gear from the fuselage.
Post-Incident Examination
The previous flight had been operated with the fuel selector positioned on the left tank. Following the incident, inspection of the airplane found no fuel in the right wing tank, ten gallons of fuel remaining in the left wing tank, and the fuel selector in the OFF position. After the aircraft was recovered, the engine operated normally when tested.