Incident Description
A pilot reported that while in level cruise at 10,500 feet mean sea level, he moved the fuel selector from the right tank to the left tank. The aircraft was equipped with a Beech fuel selector valve disengagement warning light kit. The fuel selector unit combines a fuel pump and valve assembly; the handle can be lifted to pump fuel, but in that position it is not engaged with the selector valve. When the handle and valve are misaligned, a red 'fuel' light illuminates.
Upon selecting the left tank, the red 'fuel' light came on. The pilot cross-checked fuel flow and fuel pressure, both of which were within normal range. A few minutes later, he began an en-route descent, at which point the engine started losing power. He attempted to pump the fuel pump, but the red 'fuel' light remained illuminated and the engine did not regain power. The pilot executed a forced landing onto a road, during the landing roll the left wing was damaged.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination of the airplane was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a technical representative from the airplane manufacturer. The fuel selector valve was found to operate as designed. The red 'fuel' light illuminated when the fuel selector handle was not engaged with the valve and was aligned with the fuel tank that provides fuel to the engine. Additionally, the engine was test-run and found to operate normally.