Accident Sequence
The airplane was in cruise flight when the engine lost all power. The pilot executed a forced landing, during which the aircraft collided with a tree.
Post-Accident Examination
After the accident, the passenger reported that the engine-driven fuel pump had failed. Inspection of the wreckage revealed that the fuselage (header) fuel tank was empty except for residual fuel. The fuel present was clear and consistent with 100LL aviation gasoline; no contamination was observed. The engine-driven fuel pump was removed and tested by hand, showing no movement or continuity in its mechanical linkage that connects to the engine.
Fuel System and Manual Review
According to the flight manual for the make and model, the fuel system includes a fuel gauge in the fuselage tank cap. Fuel flows from the wing tanks to the fuselage tank via the engine-driven fuel pump. From the fuselage tank, fuel is gravity-fed to the engine. The manual further states that in the event of an engine-driven fuel pump failure, the engine will continue to operate until the 6-gallon fuselage tank is depleted.
Engine Test
The inoperative fuel pump was reattached to the engine to prevent oil leakage. Five gallons of gasoline were added to the fuselage tank. The engine then started on the first attempt without hesitation and ran continuously at both idle and partial power settings.