Preflight and Fuel Management
During preflight preparations, the pilot filled the airplane's fuel tanks to a total of 50 gallons. He planned to switch fuel tanks at one hour and three hours into the flight. The departure was made with the fuel selector positioned on the right tank. One hour into the flight, he switched the fuel selector to the left tank.
Power Loss Incident
Three hours and ten minutes into the flight, while descending to land at the destination airport, the pilot set the mixture to full rich and turned the electric fuel pump on. The engine immediately lost power, with the RPM dropping to between 1,000 and 1,200 and running smoothly until the engine eventually quit. The pilot initiated an emergency checklist and troubleshooting procedures, but was unable to restore engine power. He navigated to a suitable area for an off-airport landing on a road.
Landing and Damage
Upon landing, the right wing struck brush and weeds, causing the airplane to veer right and come to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that each fuel tank had a usable capacity of 24 gallons, and his estimated fuel burn was 10 gallons per hour.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane. The fuel selector valve was found set to the left fuel tank. The magnetos were in the off position, and no key was present in the ignition switch. The propeller and engine cowl showed minimal damage. No fuel was found in the engine fuel sump. The left wing appeared undamaged, with less than a quart of fuel remaining in the tank. The right wing exhibited extensive aft crushing damage to the outboard leading edge, and the fuel line was crimped and broken by impact forces. No fuel remained in the right wing tank.
Manufacturer's Guidance
The airplane manufacturer's pilot's operating handbook included a section titled "ENGINE POWER LOSS IN FLIGHT" that provided guidance: switch the fuel selector to a tank containing fuel, turn the electric fuel pump on, set the mixture to rich, turn carburetor heat on, check engine gauges for indications of power loss cause, and ensure the primer is locked. It also noted to check the tank selector position to confirm it is on a tank containing fuel if no fuel pressure is indicated.