Accident Overview
A pilot en route to his destination experienced a sudden loss of engine power. In response, he initiated an emergency descent with the intention of performing a forced landing. During the landing attempt, the airplane collided with two trees within the intended landing area.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that the airplane had a fuel endurance of 4.8 hours and that he had flown approximately 3.0 hours since the last refueling. No additional details regarding fuel management were provided.
Examination Findings
Post-incident examination of the engine assembly revealed a significant fuel leak around the shaft in the metering unit. The leak was characterized as a steady stream, which precluded flow testing of the unit. Additionally, smaller leaks were identified in the fuel pump, originating from the shaft seal and the adjustable orifice o-ring. The control linkage on the fuel metering unit and the throttle body exhibited excessive wear. During on-site examination, no fuel was recovered from the fuel system.
Conclusion
The investigation identified multiple fuel system irregularities, including a persistent leak from the metering unit shaft, minor leaks in the fuel pump, and worn control linkages. The absence of fuel in the system after the incident further underscored the fuel system anomalies.