PLT OF AN SMA TWIN MADE A PRECAUTIONARY OFF ARPT LNDG ON A HIGHWAY AFTER RAPID LOSS OF FUEL AVAILABLE. ELECTRICAL SYS ALSO FAILED RESULTING IN A GEAR UP LNDG.

Narrative

POOR MAINT; ON 3 OCCASIONS I WAS TOLD MY ACFT HAD BEEN 'READY' (MAINT FACILITY X HAD DONE EXTENSIVE WORK ON THE FUEL SYS) ALL 3 TIMES I STARTED THE ENGS; FUEL CAME POURING OUT OF THE L WING. THE FOURTH TIME; THE OWNER OF THE MAINT FACILITY; MR X AND I; TEST FLEW THE ACFT 2 TIMES AROUND THE PATTERN. AT NO TIME THEREAFTER WERE THE INSPECTION PLATES/COWLING REMOVED AND INSPECTED FOR FUEL LEAKS. I THEN WAS TOLD BY MR X THAT IT WOULD BE OK TO TAKE A FLT WITH FRIEND/STUDENTS. THE FLT WAS SHORT (.8 HRS). I SAW NO APPARENT PROBS. THE NEXT DAY WHILE ON A XCOUNTRY TRIP; I SUSPECTED FUEL LOSS AT AN UNUSUAL RATE. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN A DSCNT FROM 10500 FT DURING THIS TIME NAV/COMS WERE LOST. FUEL CONTINUED TO DEPLETE RAPIDLY. I DECIDED TO LAND THE ACFT AT THE CLOSEST ARPT. AT THIS POINT WE HAD 2 HRS OF FUEL ON BOARD. (AT THE TIME OF DEP WE HAD 5 HRS ON BOARD -- OUR TRIP SHOULD HAVE TAKEN 3.5 HRS). AT APPROX 2500 FT OUR GAUGES SHOWED 25 MINS ON BOARD. I THEN DECIDED TO PUT THE ACFT DOWN ON A PUBLIC ROAD. I FOUND A ROAD AND BEGAN A PRELNDG CHK. THE LNDG GEAR FAILED TO COME DOWN. I DECIDED TO MAKE A GEAR UP LNDG; RATHER THAN GAR WITH LITTLE FUEL. MY OBJECTIVE WAS TO PRESERVE MY LIFE AND THAT OF MY PAX. MY CONCERNS ALSO INCLUDED RISK OF LIFE AND PROPERTY ON THE PUBLIC ROADWAY I CHOSE TO LAND ON. PERHAPS IF I HAD 'GONE AROUND' IN AN ATTEMPT TO CRANK THE GEAR DOWN; (FUEL PERMITTING) THE ROADWAY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN VACANT.