Accident Overview
An amateur-built airplane departed on a cross-country flight with 12 gallons of fuel, distributed with 5 gallons in the left wing tank and 7 gallons in the right wing tank. The outbound leg was completed without reported issues, and the pilot did not refuel before beginning the return flight. Approximately 8 miles from the destination airport, the engine lost all power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and executed a forced landing into a forest clearing. During the landing, the outboard half of the left wing struck a tree, resulting in damage.
Fuel System Examination
After the accident, the right fuel tank still contained 7 gallons of fuel, while the left fuel tank was void of usable fuel. Examination of the fuel tanks revealed no ruptures or breaches. The airplane was not equipped with a fuel tank selector. The output fuel lines from both tanks joined at a T-fitting, which combined the flow into a single line supplying the engine. The lines were secured to airframe structural tubing with nylon cable-ties. Inspection found that the output line from the right tank was pinched closed at the location of one of the cable-ties, restricting fuel flow from the right tank.
Maintenance Activities
The pilot/builder reported completing the installation of wingtip navigation and strobe lights approximately 1.4 flight hours before the accident. During that installation, electrical wiring was routed and secured in the same area as the fuel tank output lines. The pilot/builder stated that he may have tightened the fuel line cable-tie while installing the navigation and strobe lights.