Incident Overview
During the approach to land, the engine experienced interruptions, missing several times before stopping entirely. The pilot initiated troubleshooting procedures to address the loss of engine power and began preparations for a forced landing.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported that when checking the fuel selector valve, it moved further to the left than expected, surprising him. He subsequently conducted a forced landing to a field.
Damage
Upon landing, the nose wheel collapsed, and the left wing sustained substantial damage.
Post-Incident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the aircraft and found the fuel selector valve in the "off" position. The right-wing fuel tank contained half a gallon or less of fuel, while the left-wing fuel tank contained between 36 and 37 gallons of fuel.
Engine Test
After the airplane was recovered from the field, fuel was added to the fuel tanks. The engine then started without hesitation and ran for several minutes at various power settings without any anomalies or issues.
System Inspection
An examination of the remaining airplane, engine, and fuel-related systems revealed no mechanical anomalies.