Accident Sequence
The airplane experienced a loss of engine power and descended into a single family residence located 0.3 miles from the destination airport. While in the traffic pattern, the engine lost power and the pilot declared an emergency. A witness reported seeing the airplane flying low, with the propeller appearing not to produce power.
Fuel Records
Fueling records from the departure airport indicate that the aircraft was last fueled immediately prior to departure with the addition of 45 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel. According to the pilot, this fuel filled the aircraft tanks to a total of 90 gallons, with 45 gallons in each tank. However, the fueler stated that he distributed the 45 gallons evenly between the two wings, not filling each tank to its maximum capacity. Each wing's total fuel capacity was 54 gallons, of which 3 gallons were unusable. The fuel quantity sight gage on each wing reads within a calibrated area of 25 to 30 gallons.
Post-Accident Fuel Examination
The right wing sustained impact damage with numerous perforations. The inboard fuel bladder was drained via the bottom sump and found to contain about 1 gallon of fuel. The left wing was separated from the fuselage; inspection panels revealed that the fuel bladders were intact, with only several ounces of fuel within the outboard bladder and no other fluid present in the left wing.
Engine and Data Analysis
The engine was examined and test-run, revealing no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The fuel selector was found in the "OFF" position, but it had been turned off by a first responder. The non-volatile memory of an engine data management system recorded the accident flight duration as 3.66 hours, with total fuel used of 64.3 gallons. Shortly before the accident, the engine's fuel flow dropped from 15.9 to 7.1 gallons per hour, and thereafter ranged between 0.3 and 6.2 gallons per hour. Battery voltage remained fairly constant, consistent with normal electrical system operation. The pre-crash integrity of the fuel system could not be verified due to the extent of airplane damage.