Preflight and Preparation
The pilot reported that during the preflight inspection of his Cessna 205 the day before the accident, he observed that the seals on the aircraft's fuel caps were worn. He replaced them with fuel caps borrowed from a friend's Cessna 182. After the preflight, he departed for a local airport to refuel and then returned. Upon his return, he noticed "gas streaking on top of the wings" but assumed the fuel vents had discharged some fuel.
Departure and En-Route Events
On the day of the accident, the pilot checked the weather and departed with a passenger on a cross-country flight. While en route, the engine "coughed." The pilot turned on the fuel boost pump and switched the fuel selector from the right to the left tank; the engine then restarted. The pilot noted that the fuel gauges were fluctuating in flight between empty and one-quarter tank. Believing he had sufficient fuel on board, he made a descent and continued toward his destination.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
Minutes later, the engine quit. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the left tank to the right tank and turned toward a local airport. Realizing he would not make it to the airport, he elected to land in a field. The airplane touched down on rough terrain, and the nose strut sheared off. The airplane then dug into the ground and flipped over.
Damage and Pilot Statement
The propeller, landing gear, wings, fuselage, and empennage incurred damage. The pilot stated that he had replaced the seals in the borrowed caps to prevent water from leaking into the fuel, but the new seals did not fit as tightly, and he believed fuel must have been "sucked" out of the tanks.