Incident Overview
The pilot of a single-engine airplane reported that he departed with 26 gallons of fuel. Approximately 3.5 hours into the flight, he contacted flight following to inquire about the nearest airports, expressing concern about being "near the fuel limit." During the exchange, the engine lost power.
Emergency Response
The pilot declared an emergency, rocked the wings to stabilize the aircraft, applied full rich mixture, and successfully restarted the engine. However, the engine ran for only 15 seconds or less before losing power again.
Forced Landing
During the ensuing emergency approach, the pilot chose to land on a road. The landing occurred near the end of the roadway. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced, veered to the left, and impacted a pipe, causing the nose landing gear to collapse.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount as a result of the impact. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's fuel management. The pilot's account indicates that fuel exhaustion was the likely reason for the engine power loss, though no formal determination of probable cause was provided in the report.