What happened
During the third leg of a cross-country flight, the pilot reported that the engine RPMs began to fluctuate audibly. Shortly thereafter, the engine failed while the aircraft was at approximately 1,000 feet MSL near the destination airport. The pilot attempted emergency procedures to restore power, but these efforts were unsuccessful.
The aircraft was vectored toward the destination airport. While flying perpendicular to the runway, the airplane impacted the ground just short of the runway edge. Following the impact, the aircraft rolled across the runway and into a marsh, eventually coming to rest in an upright position with the right wing separated. All occupants were not injured.
The investigation
Investigators examined the fuel supply and engine performance following the accident. Sufficient fuel was drained from the left wing tank during the inspection. Calculations based on flight times, reported fuel flow for each leg, and altitudes flown indicated that approximately 86 gallons of fuel had been consumed, leaving a significant amount of the 120-gallon total usable capacity remaining.
The engine was started while still installed in the aircraft and was found to be operating normally. The investigation found no evidence of a preimpact malfunction within the fuel delivery or fuel vent systems.