Flight Details
The airplane was refueled before departing on an aerial photography flight. Within 10 minutes, the aircraft reached the target area. The pilot slowed to 60 knots and selected the carburetor heat to "ON," but did not lean the mixture. The pilot then spent approximately 5 hours maneuvering and taking photographs.
Loss of Power
After completing the photography, the pilot configured the airplane for "normal" cruise and proceeded toward the planned destination. About 1 hour later, while operating at approximately 1,000 feet above ground level, the pilot experienced a sudden loss of engine power. While maneuvering for a field, the pilot moved the fuel selector from "LEFT" to "BOTH" to "LEFT," and then back to "BOTH." The engine did not regain power. The pilot did not select the right tank.
Landing and Examination
The airplane touched down, impacted some trees, and came to rest upright and level. An FAA inspector examined the fuel tanks: the left tank was intact and empty; the right tank was also intact and contained approximately 1 inch of fuel. The left fuel gauge indicated 1/16 of a tank, and the right gauge indicated empty.