Incident Overview
During a flight, the pilot was descending from approximately 1,500 feet to 1,200 feet in an effort to remain in visual flight conditions when the engine suddenly lost power. Despite attempts to restore engine power, the pilot was unable to do so and was forced to land in a wooded area. The aircraft sustained damage during the landing.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that before departure, he had positioned the fuel selector to the right fuel tank and did not change that selection until the loss of power occurred. No other fuel management actions were taken during the flight.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the aircraft revealed that the left wing fuel tank was nearly full, while the right wing fuel tank contained less than 6 ounces of fuel. The fuel line leading to the carburetor was found to be dry, and the gascolator, when drained, contained only 10 cubic centimeters of fuel. No evidence of fuel leakage was observed from the right wing fuel tank.
Findings
The aircraft's engine failure was consistent with fuel starvation, as the right tank—the only tank selected during the flight—was nearly depleted, and the fuel system components downstream showed minimal fuel presence. The left tank, which was not selected, contained ample fuel.