Accident Overview
A pilot reported that approximately 15 minutes after departure and 5 minutes after switching the fuel source from the left wing tank to the right wing tank, engine rpm and fuel pressure began to decrease. The aircraft was at an altitude of 1,200 feet above ground level, leaving insufficient time to complete the engine failure during cruise checklist. The pilot executed an emergency landing to a rural road.
Occupant Status and Aircraft Damage
The pilot and a passenger escaped injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the landing.
Post-Crash Examination
Post-crash testing of all fuel and ignition components, as well as the core engine, revealed no malfunctions. However, evidence of fuel contamination was found in fuel samples taken from the carburetor bowl. Disassembly examination of the carburetor revealed additional caked contaminant in the recesses of the carburetor bowl.
Fuel Information
The aircraft was modified under a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the use of automotive fuel. At the time of the accident, 87 octane automotive fuel was being used.