Incident
While in cruise descent, the left engine of the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing on an agricultural field. The aircraft was situated over Lake Huron when the left engine lost power.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that he checked the fuel quantity gauges and saw that the left fuel quantity was reading 1/4 tank. The fuel selector remained on the inboard tanks because the gauge indicated fuel in the tank. The pilot reported that he did not secure the left engine and feather the propeller because the left engine was still creating some thrust and this could be needed to reach land.
Post-Accident Examination
During a post-accident inspection, all four fuel tanks were drained. The two inboard fuel tanks were found empty, while a total of 70 gallons of fuel was recovered from the two outboard tanks. The fuel tanks were not ruptured or damaged. The left engine started and ran without anomalies when the fuel selector was positioned on the outboard tank. The pilot reported that prior to departure, all fuel tanks were topped off, totaling 144 gallons.