Engine Failure
During a VFR approach for landing, the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot had reported that the airplane carried about 54 gallons of fuel and that the flight normally took one hour and twenty minutes. Upon the engine failure, the pilot performed the emergency procedure checklist for engine restart but was unsuccessful.
Forced Landing
The pilot established a glide airspeed of 85 mph and executed a forced landing to a highway. The pilot reported holding the aircraft 6 to 8 feet above the highway until it could no longer fly. The airplane contacted the highway wings level. The nose gear collapsed, followed by the left and right main gear. The right wing impacted a road sign, and the left wing was sheared off at the wing root when it struck two steel posts.
Post-Accident Inspection
After the pilot exited the airplane, he reported smelling fuel and observed fuel running out of the right tip tank. An inspection of the engine revealed that all cylinders exhibited thumb compression, and spark was verified from both magnetos to all ignition leads. All spark plugs were in good condition. Fuel was found in the supply line to the engine-driven fuel pump. The engine-driven fuel pump was disassembled and proper operation was verified.