C210 PLT DESIGNATED EXAMINER LANDS OFF ARPT. 50 PERCENT OF AVAILABLE FUEL WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE TO THE ENG AND AN ENG OUT APCH WAS MADE RESULTING IN ACFT DAMAGE.

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CRUISING AT 8500 FT BTWN GILLETTE; WY; AND CASPER; WY; I ALLOWED THE ENG TO BE STARVED OF FUEL BY RUNNING THE L TANK DRY. THERE WAS AMPLE FUEL IN THE R TANK. COMPLACENCY WAS THE MAIN REASON FOR THE PROB ALTHOUGH THE L FUEL GAUGE WAS FOUND TO BE INOP. I FAILED TO KEEP TRACK OF THE FUEL CONSUMPTION ON THE L SIDE. WHILE TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROB I WAS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING A SUITABLE LNDG OFF-FIELD. THIS KEPT ME FROM DOING A THOROUGH EMER CHKLIST. I DID NOT SWITCH TANKS AS IS CALLED FOR IN THE PLT OPERATING HANDBOOK; IN THE EVENT OF ENG PWR FAILURE INFLT. FURTHER; I NOW FEEL THAT IF I HAD SPENT MORE TIME TROUBLESHOOTING AND LESS TIME TRYING TO LET THE APCH CTLR KNOW I WAS HAVING A PROB; THAT IT WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN AN ISSUE. IF I HAD FIRST GONE TO THE CHKLIST THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO INCIDENT. UPON LNDG I WAS TRYING TO AVOID PWR LINES AND LAND ON A CURVY ROAD. THE LNDG I CHOSE WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH; SO WHILE TRYING TO MAKE THE 45 DEG TURN AT THE END OF THE ROLLOUT; I LEFT THE ROAD AND HIT THE DITCH ON THE SIDE. THE PROP WAS DAMAGED ALONG WITH THE R WINGTIP. (CLASSIC: 'IT CAN'T HAPPEN TO ME.')