Flight and Engine Failure
The pilot reported departing Anoka County Airport (ANE) to perform touch and go landings. After two uneventful patterns and landings, the airplane turned onto final approach for the third pattern when the engine stopped. The pilot recalled no roughness or sputtering prior to the complete loss of power. The airplane's flaps were set at 10 degrees and the landing gear was down.
Attempted Restart and Forced Landing
An engine restart was attempted but unsuccessful. The pilot stated, "The landing gear was brought up to increase our glide distance but the airport could not be made. The terrain was wooded with homes interspersed. No good landing areas were apparent so I steered towards the trees rather than the homes. I then made an emergency call to the ANE control tower." The airplane clipped trees with the right wing followed by the left wing. The pilot reported a hard impact and was knocked unconscious soon after. The airplane landed nose first in a grove of trees close to a detached garage.
Passenger Observations
The passenger in the rear seat said they had been operating in the traffic pattern for approximately 20 to 30 minutes when the engine quit. The passenger noted the propeller continued to windmill. After turning base to final, the right wing hit a large tree. The airplane then went straight down. Upon exiting the airplane, the passenger observed fire on the ground all around the airplane. The passenger also noticed the right seat passenger reach over the pilot to get something when the engine quit, and the pilot attempted to restart the engine without success.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed the fuel selector valve positioned between the left and right tank lines, providing no fuel flow through the valve. Examination of the engine and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. According to the airplane owner's manual, the Engine Failure checklist includes: "Fuel Selector - CHANGE TO OTHER CELL (check visually)."