What happened
The aircraft experienced a complete loss of engine power during flight operations. In response to this emergency, the pilot executed a forced landing in an adjacent corn field. Upon post-accident inspection of the airframe and systems, investigators determined that the fuel selector valve was positioned to draw from the left fuel tank. Analysis confirmed that the left tank contained only unusable fuel at the time of the incident. Conversely, the right fuel tank was found to be nearly full. When the fuel selector was manually moved to the right position, the engine restarted and operated normally, confirming adequate fuel supply in the alternate tank.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft systems focused on the fuel delivery mechanism. The inspection verified the physical position of the fuel selector valve relative to the fuel tanks. The condition of the fuel within each tank was assessed to determine availability for engine operation. The mechanical integrity of the engine was tested after repositioning the selector to confirm functionality.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the event was fuel exhaustion resulting from improper fuel management. Specifically, the pilot failed to ensure the fuel selector was aligned with a tank containing usable fuel. The discrepancy between the selector position and the available fuel quantity led directly to the power loss. The engine itself remained functional once proper fuel supply was restored.
Safety message
Pilots must verify the fuel selector position matches the intended fuel source before and during flight. Regular checks of fuel quantities in all tanks are essential to prevent selection of a tank with insufficient usable fuel.