Forced Landing After Power Loss
During cruise flight, the airplane suffered a loss of engine power. The pilot executed a forced landing to a construction area. During the landing, the airplane nosed over.
Post-Accident Inspection
An FAA inspector who examined the accident site found the left fuel tank empty and the fuel selector positioned to off. A mechanic who arrived at the site before the inspector stated that he had turned the fuel selector to the off position. In a written statement, the pilot did not mention selecting a different fuel tank after the power loss. However, during two interviews, the pilot made conflicting statements regarding whether she had switched fuel tanks.
Engine Examination
A subsequent examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any discrepancies that would have precluded normal operation. After impact, the damaged lower half of the carburetor was replaced, and the engine was run on a test stand for approximately 10 minutes at various power settings with no issues.