Accident Sequence
The airplane was being flown back to the airport after a flight of about three hours. Approximately 15 minutes from the destination, the engine lost power. The pilot executed an emergency landing, touching down in a parking lot. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a cement block wall.
Pre-Flight and Fuel Information
Before departure, the pilot had requested that the airplane be serviced with fuel. Both fuel tanks were filled to maximum capacity, and the fuel gauges indicated full tanks. The pilot later stated that he believed about 10 gallons of fuel remained at the time of the accident.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector responded to the scene and observed no signs of fuel. A visual check of the fuel tanks showed the left tank was empty and the right tank contained approximately 1½ gallons of fuel. Neither tank had been breached during the accident.
Engine Modification
The original Continental GO-300 engine had been replaced with a Continental O-470 engine under an FAA Form 337 field approval. The O-470 engine has a higher fuel consumption rate than the original GO-300.