Incident Overview
While en route to Rapid City, South Dakota, the airplane's engine began to lose power. The pilot reported that he discovered the fuel selector was in the off position. He then switched the fuel selector to the left wing tank and turned the ferry tank to 'off'. The engine resumed normal operation.
Approximately 15 minutes later, the engine again lost power. The pilot turned the fuel selector to the right wing tank, activated the electric fuel pump, and selected carburetor heat. According to the pilot, none of these actions had any effect on the engine.
Precautionary Landing and Impact
The pilot performed a precautionary landing onto a dirt road. After touchdown, the airplane's right wing tip struck a wood fence post. The pilot stated that the impact tore off the right wing, and the airplane spun 180 degrees before coming to a stop.
Post-Incident Examination
Examination of the airplane revealed fuel present in the wing tanks, but no fuel was found in the ferry tank. Inspection of the engine and other airplane systems found no anomalies.