Accident Details
On March 5, 2012, about 1430 central standard time, a Piper PA-22-150, registration N6849B, experienced a total loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The pilot executed an off-airport forced landing to a field near East Troy, Wisconsin. The certificated private pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated at Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport (3D2), Ephraim, Wisconsin, with a destination of Burlington Municipal Airport (BUU), Burlington, Wisconsin.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that the airplane was fueled at BUU and had 44 gallons aboard before departure. After approximately 1 hour 40 minutes of flight time, he landed at 3D2. He then departed for BUU, and after about 1 hour 15 minutes of flight time, the engine quit. He moved the fuel selector to the left fuel tank, and the engine restarted, running for about 30 seconds before quitting again. During the descent for a forced landing, the engine could be restarted in short bursts by hand-pumping the accelerator pump and primer pump. The airplane landed short of the intended landing field.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that none of the airplane's fuel tanks contained usable fuel, and there was no evidence of a fuel leak.
Pilot Information
The pilot's flight review was expired at the time of the accident.