Event Summary
A pilot departed on the outbound leg of a cross-country flight with the fuel tanks filled to "1/8-inch below the solid ring of the [fuel filler] neck." The pilot did not refuel the airplane before departing on the return leg. Approximately 6 miles from the final destination, the engine lost power. The pilot adjusted the engine controls, which briefly restored engine power, but the power loss recurred. The pilot then executed a forced landing. During the landing, the airplane struck a fence and sustained substantial damage.
Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the accident site. The inspector reported no odor of fuel and no evidence of fuel spillage. The inspector also noted that the airplane contained less than 8 quarts of fuel at the scene.
Pilot Statement
When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated, "even though indications were that there was sufficient fuel for the return flight, getting fuel at [the departure airport] as a precaution would have prevented the accident."