Incident Overview
Witnesses reported gusty wind conditions as the pilot initiated a go-around. Upon adding power, the engine sputtered and ceased operation.
Fuel System and Pilot Actions
According to the airplane's owner, the aircraft had been refueled three days prior to the incident. The owner stated that the three tanks were topped with autogas, which was permitted under a supplemental type certificate (STC). The right wing's fuel capacity was 27.5 gallons of usable fuel.
Per the pilot's operating handbook, the standard procedure after reaching cruise altitude is to select the right tank. The pilot is then to operate from that tank until the fuel supply is exhausted. Thereafter, the pilot switches to the left tank and activates the transfer pump to refill the right main tank from the auxiliary fuel tank.
Findings
Post-incident examination revealed that the left tank was nearly full. The auxiliary fuel tank contained fuel, although it was found to be leaking. The right tank was completely empty. The fuel selector was positioned on 'right' and showed no signs of impact damage. Subsequent engine inspection revealed no abnormalities.
The pilot reported that it was normal practice to operate on the right fuel tank long enough to allow fuel from the auxiliary tank to be pumped into the right tank. He estimated that the aircraft had been flying on the right tank for approximately 2.5 hours prior to the go-around attempt.