What happened
Approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, the engine lost power during a flight that was scheduled to last 15 minutes. The pilot reported having 11 gallons of fuel on board at the start of the flight. Upon the loss of power, the pilot activated the fuel pump, which caused the engine to momentarily regain power.
At the time of the event, the pilot noted that the fuel selector was set to the "Both" position. The left fuel tank indicator showed empty, while the right fuel tank indicator was fluctuating between 1/8 and 1/4 full. While flying over a heavily wooded area, the pilot identified a small clearing for an emergency landing. During the forced landing, the aircraft contacted terrain containing logs, rocks, stumps, and ruts.
The investigation
A post-accident inspection of the aircraft was conducted to determine the cause of the power loss. Investigators found that 12 gallons of fuel had been drained from the right fuel tank and slightly more than 2 gallons had been drained from the left fuel tank. The fuel selector was confirmed to be in the "Both" position. The inspection did not reveal any mechanical failure or malfunction that would have caused the engine to lose power.