What happened
The aircraft had been serviced with a full load of fuel, and the pilot successfully completed two prior flights without incident. During the third flight, after completing the en route portion of the trip and while preparing for landing, the engine lost all power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful, necessitating a forced landing into a field.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft rolled approximately 400 feet before the nose wheel collapsed, causing the airplane to come to a sudden stop.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the fuel system configuration and remaining fuel levels. At engine start, the selected tank contained approximately 23.5 gallons of usable fuel. Calculations performed during the investigation determined that approximately 22.0 gallons of fuel would be required to complete the flight without any reserve.
Examination of the wreckage confirmed that the right outboard tank was intact but empty. During the accident flight, the fuel selector had been set to the right outboard position.