Incident Summary
A pilot and a passenger were on a cruise flight when the pilot noticed that the right fuel tank was empty and the left fuel tank was approximately one-quarter full. The primer was stuck in the out position. Attempts by the pilot and passenger to push the primer in were unsuccessful.
Pilot Actions
Deciding to return to the departure airport, the pilot turned the aircraft back. While en route, the engine lost power. The pilot reported the airplane was about 1,000 feet above the ground at that time and chose not to attempt an engine restart. Instead, she executed a 180-degree turn and initiated a forced landing toward an open field.
The airplane touched down halfway across the field. The pilot attempted to stop, but the craft skidded through a barbed-wire fence. The left wing clipped a tree, causing the airplane to spin 180 degrees. It came to rest facing north.
Post-Accident Examination
After the accident, an examination of the airplane found no usable fuel on board. The primer handle was in the unlocked position. A review of the primer's design drawings indicated the presence of two check valves within the primer system, which are designed to prevent fuel from entering the engine even when the primer is in the out position. Fuel can only be introduced into the engine through the action of closing the primer.