Accident Scenario
While the airplane was in the traffic pattern, the engine lost all power. The pilot turned toward the airport and observed another airplane at the approach end of the runway. That airplane appeared to be in position on the runway and was not moving. The pilot then extended the flaps to full and lowered the landing gear to slow the airspeed. Realizing that the increased drag would prohibit a glide to the runway, the pilot performed a forced landing to a field.
Restoration and Maintenance
The airplane had been in restoration for about 10 years. During the restoration, the fuel tanks were removed, drained, pressurized, and inspected before being reinstalled. Upon completion of the restoration, the pilot sought a mechanic to perform an annual inspection. However, due to problems with the airplane, the mechanic refused to sign off the annual inspection, and the airplane was flown without it.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the engine after the accident revealed a brown stained liquid, similar to automotive fuel, draining from fuel lines as they were removed. Debris was also observed in the liquid. The pilot stated that he had never put automotive fuel into the airplane, but "dried auto fuel" may have been present in the fuel tanks and loosened as new aviation fuel was added. The engine had accumulated about 5 total hours since the restoration.