Incident Overview
A flight instructor and a student pilot were conducting simulated engine failure exercises near a private airport. At an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet above the runway, they initiated a go-around. During the maneuver, the engine lost all power, and the instructor executed a forced landing back to the airport.
Instructor's Account
The instructor reported that the fuel selector was positioned to 'LEFT' when the power loss occurred. He noted that the electric fuel pump was activated but did not alleviate the low fuel pressure indication. He could not recall whether he had time to move the fuel selector to the 'RIGHT' position.
Post-Accident Examination
Inspection of the wreckage revealed that the left fuel selector stop was not correctly positioned. Its three mounting screws were found loosened. The stop prevented the fuel selector from engaging fully into the 'LEFT' detent.
Engine Test Run
A subsequent test run of the engine showed that moving the fuel selector less than one-quarter inch from the 'LEFT' detent caused a complete loss of engine power, consistent with fuel starvation due to the selector stop misalignment.