Accident
The pilot reported that he had filled the aircraft's fuel tanks to capacity before departing on a cross-country flight. Approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the engine suddenly stopped producing power. The pilot checked the fuel mixture and fuel selector settings and attempted to restore engine power, but was unsuccessful. He then maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing in a field, touching down with the landing gear retracted. The landing resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft's fuselage.
Investigation
A post-accident examination of the engine compartment was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The inspection revealed that the flexible fuel hose connecting to the inlet fitting of the servo fuel injector had separated from the fitting. No damage was observed to the fitting, the B-nut, or the threads of either component. There was no evidence of torque seal putty on the B-nut, and no provision for safety wire to secure the B-nut was present.
The most recent annual inspection of the aircraft had been performed on June 14, 2010, and the airplane had accumulated approximately 7 flight hours since that inspection. The mechanic who performed the annual inspection stated to an FAA inspector that he had removed the separated fuel line during the inspection to gain access to the fuel inlet screen. He further stated that around the time of the inspection, he had begun a practice of applying purple-colored torque seal putty to components he disassembled or removed.