What happened
The pilot departed on an estimated 2.5-hour cross-country flight. During the mission, the pilot calculated that the aircraft would have more than one hour of fuel remaining upon completion of the trip; consequently, the pilot chose to extend the flight by an additional 0.75 hours.
While returning to the departure airport, the aircraft experienced a partial loss of power, which subsequently progressed to a total loss of engine power. During the resulting forced landing, the airplane's left wing struck a telephone pole and the empennage made contact with a fence. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage revealed that there was no fuel remaining in the aircraft's left fuel tank, and approximately 0.5 gallons remained in the right fuel tank. Following the accident, when fuel was supplied to the engine fuel lines, the engine started and operated satisfactorily.
Review of the airplane's rental log and Hobbs meter indicated the aircraft had been operated for 3.4 hours. According to the Airplane Operating Manual, the total fuel capacity is 26 gallons, with 1.5 gallons being unusable. The manual's endurance chart indicates a maximum endurance of approximately 3.4 hours when operating at 75 percent power.