FUEL STARVATION CREATES AN EMER OFF ARPT LNDG ATTEMPT IN AN SMA.

Narrative

WHILE CLBING OUT I WAS TURNING OUT OF THE PATTERN AT APPROX 400 FT AGL. DURING THE TURN I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF IAS AT THE SAME TIME A COMPANY ACFT WAS RPTING A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT. WHILE PITCHING THE ACFT DOWN; THE ENG BACKFIRED LOUDLY AND THEN QUIT. I IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND TURNED ON THE FUEL BOOST PUMP. I CAME DOWN FAST TRYING TO REGAIN AIRSPD AND TOUCHED DOWN IN A FARMER'S FIELD. AS THE ACFT BOUNCED; THE ENG RESTARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO FLY BACK TO THE ARPT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT. THE L TANK HAD ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL AND THE R TANK HAD APPROX 30 GALLONS. NORMAL PROC WHEN FLYING JUMPERS AT OUR DROP ZONE IS TO FILL APPROX 25 GALLONS PER SIDE ALLOWING 1 TRIP TO ALT PER SIDE PLUS RESERVE. THIS DAY; I FUELED FOR 2 LOADS IN THE L SIDE AND 1 IN THE R. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SECOND FLT FROM THE L SIDE. SEVERAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTED TO THE OCCURRENCE; I BELIEVE. HIGHER THAN NORMAL DENSITY ALT; INDICATIONS OF A FUEL LEAK ON THE L SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE; POSSIBLE RICHER THAN NORMAL MIXTURE SETTING ON THE PREVIOUS LOAD; AND NOT TAKING TIME TO VISUALLY CHK FUEL BEFORE TAKING OFF.