What happened
During a positioning flight, an unidentified aircraft experienced a loss of engine power while in the cruise phase. The pilot reported that after completing agricultural spraying operations at 17:15, the left fuel gauge indicated 14 gallons remaining, while the right tank was empty. Based on a consumption rate of approximately 14 gallons per hour, the pilot estimated having 45 to 60 minutes of fuel remaining upon departure from the field.
At approximately 17:45, the engine ceased operation. The pilot executed a forced landing, during which the aircraft impacted trees and sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
An inspection of the fuel system was conducted during the recovery of the aircraft. Investigators found that the right fuel tank was dry. In the left wing tank, a ruptured fuel line was discovered. Further examination revealed that no fuel was present in the lines between the fuel line and the engine-driven fuel pump, from the engine-driven fuel pump to the mixing valve/fuel control, or from the fuel control to the fuel distributor/spider.