Accident Details
On August 3, 2023, at approximately 1145 Pacific Daylight Time, an experimental amateur-built Cozy, registration N964AL, was substantially damaged during an accident near McDermitt, Oregon. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Pilot's Account
The pilot reported that he had recently purchased the airplane and was relocating it. He had two prior flights in the accident aircraft. On the day of the accident, he departed from Shelton, Washington, with an intended destination of Battle Mountain, Nevada. During the flight, he had no means to monitor fuel burn rate other than fuel sight gauges, which were obstructed from view by objects. He leaned the fuel mixture slightly lean of peak, routinely switched fuel tanks, and believed he had sufficient fuel for the flight. After approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes of flight at an altitude of about 9,500 feet mean sea level, the airplane experienced a complete loss of engine power. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot chose to conduct an off-airport landing on a dirt road. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered uneven terrain, nosed over, and came to rest inverted.
Postaccident Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed crushing of the forward fuselage. Flight control continuity was confirmed for all primary flight control surfaces to the cockpit controls. Wreckage recovery personnel reported no fuel residue, fuel odor, or fuel recovered from the site. No discoloration of surrounding vegetation was observed.
Examination of the recovered airframe and engine found no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The left and right fuel tanks showed no visible damage and contained no fuel or liquid. A visual inspection of the fuel system established continuity from the main fuel tanks to the carburetor. A small amount of fuel was observed in the airframe fuel strainer, but the carburetor bowl was devoid of fuel.
Functional Engine Test
A functional engine test was conducted using an external fuel tank attached to the right-wing fuel inlet line. The aircraft's battery lacked sufficient charge to crank the engine initially, so an external power source was used. The engine started and operated at various power settings, although due to damage to the forward fuselage, the throttle could not be advanced to the full forward position.