A PA28-180 AT 6000 FT DECLARED AN EMER DUE TO LOSS OF PWR WHEN SWITCHING FUEL TANKS. CAUSED BY A FAILED FUEL SELECTOR VALVE.

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MY PIPER PA28-180 HAD ANNUAL APR/MON/05. PLANE WAS FLOWN FOR TEST FLT APR/FRI/05 BY MYSELF (FUEL TANKS WERE NOT SWITCHED). DEPARTED HOME ARPT (ZZZ1) AT XA00 FOR IFR FLT TO ZZZ2. AFTER 30 MINS INTO FLT; I SWITCHED FUEL TANKS (THIS WAS FIRST TIME AFTER ANNUAL). FUEL SWITCH LEVER WAS VERY LOOSE WITH NO DETENT FOR LOCKING INTO POS. FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO. I IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED LEVER BACK TO ORIGINAL POS. FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO. ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS ON; BUT PUMPED ONLY ENOUGH FUEL FOR IDLE SPD (1000 RPM). ATC WAS INFORMED; THEY VECTORED ME TO ZZZ3 4.5 MI AHEAD. A NO PWR LNDG WAS MADE CLIPPING THE TOPS OF SOME TREES AND LNDG SHORT OF RWY BY 30 FT. DAMAGED LIGHT (12 INCH TEAR IN BOTTOM OF PLANE). I FEEL PROB WAS CAUSED BY INCORRECT ASSEMBLY OF FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH; LED TO UNINTENTIONAL SHUTOFF OF FUEL SUPPLY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE AIRPLANE WAS TEST FLOWN 1 DAY AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM THE ANNUAL INSPECTION; BUT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS NOT TESTED. THE RPTR; WHEN ASKED IF THE VALVE HAD BEEN REMOVED; ADJUSTED; OR ANY WORK PERFORMED ON THE VALVE ANSWERED 'DIDN'T KNOW IF ANY WORK WAS DONE ON THE VALVE.' DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE WAS MINIMAL: SKIN DAMAGE; WHEEL FAIRING TORN OFF; AND ENG MOUNT SUPPORT BENT.