Introduction
During a cruise flight, a pilot experienced an engine failure after switching fuel tanks. The subsequent forced landing in a commercial log-sorting yard resulted in the collapse of one main landing gear leg.
Sequence of Events
While in cruise flight, the pilot switched from an empty right tank to a full left tank. Due to the detents on the fuel selector valve being hard to feel, the pilot inadvertently placed the selector in a position that did not allow sufficient fuel flow to the engine to maintain power. The engine then quit.
Attempting to restart, the pilot repositioned the valve to the right tank, but the engine did not restart. The pilot then tried again to select the left tank but was unable to place the selector in the correct position. Another attempt to use the right tank also failed to restore fuel to the engine.
With no suitable landing area available, the pilot elected to attempt landing between stacks of logs in a commercial log-sorting yard. During the landing in the confined space, the main gear contacted the surface with enough force to cause one main gear leg to collapse.
Post-Accident Inspection
A post-accident inspection of the fuel selector determined that it functioned properly when in the correct position, but the alignment detents were hard to discern.