Incident Overview
On the third leg of a cross-country flight, while flying at approximately 1,000 feet msl near the destination airport, the pilot reported that the engine's rpm began to audibly fluctuate. Shortly thereafter, the engine ceased operation. The pilot executed emergency procedures in an attempt to restore engine power, but these were unsuccessful.
Descent and Impact
Air traffic control vectored the flight toward the destination airport. While flying perpendicular to the runway, the airplane impacted the ground just short of the runway edge, rolled across the runway, and continued into a marsh. The aircraft came to rest upright with the right wing separated.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the accident, adequate fuel was drained from the left wing fuel tank. The engine, still installed on the airplane, was started and found to operate normally. No preimpact malfunction was noted in the fuel delivery or fuel vent system.
Fuel Consumption Analysis
Fuel consumption calculations, based on flight times, reported fuel flow for each leg, and altitudes flown, indicated that the estimated fuel consumed was approximately 86 gallons. The total usable fuel capacity of the aircraft is 120 gallons.