What happened
During the departure climb, while at an altitude of less than 1,000 feet above the ground, the pilot transitioned the fuel selector from the left main fuel tank to the right auxiliary tank. Following this movement, the engine failed. The pilot reported that there was insufficient time to manage the engine failure and focus on the emergency, leaving only enough time to execute a forced landing.
The aircraft struck a detached garage and came to rest in an inverted position near a residence.
The investigation
Investigators examined the fuel selector and found that the index plate was improperly secured. This condition obscured the marks used to indicate the tank index position. The pilot noted that turbulence was present during the fuel tank change, which prevented him from verifying the position of the fuel selector or feeling the selector's detent. Additionally, it was noted that the right tank was placarded for use in level flight only.