Flight Details
The flight was the first after the engine had been rebuilt. The pilots planned to circle the airport environment to break in the engine. The engine operated at 75% power for 30 minutes, during which engine performance and fuel consumption readings were recorded. The pilots then decided to land at the airport they had been circling.
Incident Sequence
Just after the landing gear was lowered, both the pilot and the pilot-rated passenger reported a strong smell of fuel. Approximately two minutes later, the engine began to sputter and subsequently quit. Unable to complete a successful landing at the airport, the pilot elected to perform a forced landing to an open field. During the forced landing, the aircraft's left wingtip contacted the surface first, causing the aircraft to cartwheel before coming to rest.
Post-Accident Inspection
Post-accident inspection of the wreckage found a small amount of fuel in one wing. However, due to the severity of the structural breakup and compromise of the fuel system, the source of the fuel leak could not be determined.