Accident Sequence
While in cruise flight at an altitude of 1,000 feet, the engine lost power without warning. The pilot executed a forced landing onto a narrow dirt road situated on a levee. During the landing roll, the main landing gear sank into soft mud and ruts, causing the aircraft to nose over and come to rest inverted.
Pilot Actions
The pilot, who also holds a mechanic certificate and had recently rebuilt the airplane, reported that before the flight he had observed fuel leaking from around the glass bowl of the gascolator assembly. He reseated the bowl and secured the locking screw with safety wire before departing.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the gascolator glass bowl was missing. The absence of the bowl resulted in fuel starvation to the engine, leading to the loss of power.