Sequence of Events
The flight was planned for 2.5 hours, and the pilot departed with partially full fuel tanks. During climb and cruise, no mechanical malfunctions were reported, and the engine did not sputter or backfire. Approaching the destination airport, the engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot repositioned the fuel selector to the opposite fuel tank, and engine power was restored. However, about 1 minute later, all engine power was again lost, with the airplane approximately 4 miles from the airport. The airplane subsequently collided with a berm during a forced landing on soft terrain.
Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane. The inspector reported observing 4 gallons of fuel in the left wing's fuel tank and 8 gallons in the right wing's fuel tank. The gascolator bowl was devoid of foreign material. The engine was test run and operated normally. According to the FAA's type certificate data sheet, the airplane's unusable fuel was only 2.2 pounds (about 1/3 gallon).
Conclusion
The cause of the engine power loss was not determined.