Incident Overview
A student pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings in the airport traffic pattern when the engine lost power. The pilot switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank, but the engine did not respond. He subsequently executed a forced landing in a small field. During the landing, the airplane collided with trees.
Fuel System Observations
Following the incident, a fireman noted fuel leaking from the right fuel tank, but no fuel was observed leaking from the left tank. The salvage company reported that there was no fuel in the engine fuel line, and no fuel was present in the line from the left tank. When the fuel selector was positioned to the left fuel tank and the boost pump was turned on, no fuel was ejected.
Engine Testing
The engine was later functionally tested and operated normally. The airplane had flown 3.9 hours since it was last refueled.
Investigation Findings
The investigation did not determine the exact cause of the power loss. The fuel system anomalies suggest fuel starvation, but the engine's subsequent normal operation indicates no mechanical failure.