What happened
While descending below 800 feet on approach to land, the pilot reported that the engine underwent several surges before quitting entirely. In an attempt to restore power, the pilot switched fuel tanks and moved the electric boost pump to the low position. The engine briefly appeared to start but failed again. After switching the electric boost pump to the high position, the engine provided no response.
The pilot subsequently ditched the aircraft in a lake. Following the ditching, the aircraft remained afloat for approximately 10 minutes. No injuries were reported.
The investigation
Calculations regarding fuel consumption indicated that the aircraft had approximately 3 gallons of fuel remaining at the moment of engine failure. Upon recovery of the aircraft, investigators found it contained about 2.5 gallons of fuel. During the inspection, the engine was successfully started and operated at full power. Additionally, police and recovery personnel observed no fuel slicks on the surface of the lake.