Incident Overview
During descent, the pilot reported feeling the aircraft slow down quickly. After verifying the position of the engine controls, the pilot was unable to restore engine power. A complete loss of engine power necessitated a forced landing.
Pilot Actions
The pilot selected an emergency landing field. According to the pilot's account, after clearing the tree line, the landing gear was extended and flaps were set to ten degrees. A sharp turn was required to avoid a large tree in the middle of the field. Believing the tree was cleared, the pilot straightened the aircraft and raised the nose to flare. The aircraft did not seem to flare and struck the ground hard. The landing gear collapsed on impact, and the aircraft slid along the ground.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed that approximately eight ounces of fuel were present in the fuel tanks. No fuel was found in the fuel line running from the firewall to the engine. The fuel tanks and lines appeared intact, and no evidence of fuel leakage was observed.
Fuel Management Computer Use
The pilot stated that prior to the flight, the remaining fuel quantity was referenced from a fuel management computer installed in the aircraft, rather than visually confirming the fuel level. The operating manual for the fuel management computer states that it is a fuel flow measuring system and not a quantity-sensing device. It further emphasizes that a visual inspection and positive determination of usable fuel in the tanks is necessary, and that the determined available usable fuel must be manually entered into the system.