What happened
The pilot departed with approximately 30 gallons of fuel on board. After roughly two hours of flight time, the engine lost power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing into a rough field, during which the aircraft nosed over.
The investigation
Post-crash examination of the aircraft revealed that there was no usable fuel remaining in the system. Investigators found no evidence of any fuel leakage from the aircraft. Furthermore, the engine fuel injector manifold contained no fuel, and there were no signs of a blockage or malfunction within the fuel system.
To test the engine's functionality, fuel was added to a wing tank. The engine was then started and operated at full power; during this test, no mechanical failures or malfunctions were observed. During the investigation, representatives from Continental Engine noted that the engine has a consumption rate of up to 18 gallons per hour.