What happened
Approximately one and a half hours into the flight, while returning to the airport to drop off a banner, the pilot of the aircraft experienced an engine malfunction. The engine began operating roughly, accompanied by a decrease in engine RPMs. This loss of power rendered the aircraft unable to maintain its altitude. Shortly thereafter, the engine began to cough and the propeller revolutions slowed.
The pilot executed the emergency checklist and attempted an engine restart, but the attempt was unsuccessful. After identifying a safe area to drop the banner, the pilot performed a precautionary landing on a golf course. During the landing sequence, the right main landing gear wheel struck a roll in the fairway, resulting in damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
An FAA inspector examined the aircraft and found that there was no evidence of fuel escaping the airplane as a result of the accident. Although the pilot's fuel gauge indicated over a quarter tank of fuel remaining, the inspector found only minimal fuel on board.
During interviews, the pilot stated that he had not added fuel to the aircraft on the day of the accident. He noted that during his preflight inspection, he attempted to check the fuel level by placing his finger into the refueling access; while he could not initially feel any fuel, he shook the airplane and felt fuel splash onto his finger. Records from the operator indicated that fuel had last been added to the aircraft the day before the accident, following a two-and-a-half-hour flight by another pilot.