Incident Summary
A pilot experienced a sudden loss of engine power during flight, reporting that the engine "just quit." The pilot suspected the issue was fuel-related. Shortly before the failure, the pilot had moved his seat aft to retrieve an item from the back seat.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that he had recently purchased the airplane and had accumulated a total of 21 hours of flight time, with 19 of those hours logged in the 90 days preceding the incident. No further details about the pilot's experience or the aircraft's history were provided.
Investigation Findings
A recovery crew examined the aircraft and noted that the fuel shut-off valve, located under the pilot's seat, was found between the "right" and "off" positions. The right wing tank was empty, having been ripped open by a rock. Approximately 10 to 11 gallons of fuel were drained from the left wing tank, which remained unbreached.
The pilot's movement of the seat may have inadvertently adjusted the fuel shut-off valve, potentially leading to fuel starvation. However, no definitive causal link was established in the source.