Accident Overview
During initial climb after takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot radioed the tower, reporting engine trouble and requesting clearance to return to the airport. Realizing insufficient altitude to reach the runway, the pilot identified an abandoned softball field suitable for an emergency landing. During the landing, the airplane struck a berm and a fence just short of the field and nosed over.
Fuel System Findings
Post-accident examination revealed fuel in both the left and right wing fuel tanks. However, the header fuel tank, which is installed in the fuel system between the fuel selector valve and the fuel strainer, was empty. No fuel was present in the fuel lines leading from the header tank to the fuel pump, fuel strainers, fuel pump, or gascolator. The only fuel found was in the fuel return line at the firewall. An engine manufacturer representative stated that the amount of fuel contained within the fuel system from and including the supplemental fuel tank to the injection system could sustain engine operation for a time period of between two to four minutes, depending on the power setting.