Accident Overview
A private pilot was conducting a local area round-robin flight to various lakes for water landing practice under 14 CFR Part 91. During cruise flight, the engine lost power. The pilot activated the boost pump, which briefly restored power for a few seconds before the engine quit completely. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a small lake, but the airplane struck trees and landed short of the lake, resulting in structural damage to the wings.
Post-Accident Inspection
After the accident, a mechanic who removed the wings for transport informed the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) that no fuel was found in the wing fuel tanks. Another mechanic who removed the engine reported that the fuel system, including the gascolator, was intact with no signs of fuel leakage. This mechanic removed less than 1 gallon of fuel from the airplane's header tank and noted that a visual inspection of the engine compartment revealed no evidence of a fuel leak. The IIC's visual examination of the airplane's exterior also disclosed no evidence of fuel staining.
Pilot Statement
In a written statement to the NTSB dated June 22, the pilot indicated that according to his fuel consumption calculations, there should have been enough fuel onboard for the proposed flight. The pilot also wrote that after recovering the airplane, he saw "fuel staining on the belly indicating fuel leaking from the gascolator."