What happened
While operating in cruise flight approximately 25 miles north of the intended destination, the aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine by switching the fuel selector to the left position, but the engine failed to restart. After successfully clearing several power lines, the pilot performed a forced landing in a field consisting of sand and dirt.
During the landing rollout, more than halfway across the field, the pilot applied brake pressure. The wheels subsequently dug into the soft terrain, causing the aircraft to nose over and come to rest in an inverted position. The pilot was not injured during the event.
The investigation
Post-accident inspection of the fuel system revealed that four gallons of fuel were drained from the system. According to the FAA-approved flight manual for this aircraft, the total fuel capacity is 80 gallons, with 6 gallons classified as unusable. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the impact.
Findings
The investigation considered the possibility of fuel exhaustion. The pilot noted that due to a lack of familiarity with the aircraft—having only accumulated approximately 2 to 3 hours of flight time in the plane since its recent purchase—he did not utilize the electric boost pump during his restart attempts.