What happened
During the approach phase of flight, the aircraft experienced a series of engine malfunctions. The left engine initially surged and lost power, prompting the pilot to switch the fuel selector to an alternative tank, which temporarily restored operation. However, the left engine suffered a second surge and power loss. The pilot attempted to rectify the issue by switching the left engine fuel selector to the right main fuel tank, but the engine failed a third time. Consequently, the pilot shut down the left engine and feathered the propeller.
Shortly after the first engine was secured, the right engine also experienced surging and a loss of power. The pilot proceeded to shut down the right engine and feather the propeller as well. The aircraft was then forced to perform an emergency landing in a field. During the landing rollout, the left wing of the aircraft struck a tree, which triggered a fire in the left wing area.
Findings
An investigation into the fuel levels following the accident revealed critical shortages. The right main fuel tank was found to be empty, while the right auxiliary tank held only 2.5 gallons of fuel. In the left fuel system, the main tank contained only 0.5 gallons, and the left auxiliary tank had been ruptured. According to the pilot operating handbook, the main tanks are subject to 1 gallon of unusable fuel, and the auxiliary tanks are subject to 0.5 gallons of unusable fuel. The depletion of usable fuel was a primary factor in the engine failures.