What happened
During the initial climb following takeoff, the pilot experienced an engine surge and a subsequent loss of power. In response to the power loss, the pilot switched fuel tanks and activated the auxiliary electric fuel boost pump, which had been previously turned off. Despite these actions, the pilot was unable to restart the engine. The aircraft subsequently collided with a ravine during the resulting forced landing.
The investigation
An examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of mechanical anomalies prior to the accident. To verify engine performance, the engine was operated in an engine test cell, where it successfully developed full rated rpm. However, an on-scene inspection of the cockpit fuel selector indicated that the valve was positioned between the left and right fuel tanks.