A C172 pilot performing aerial survey work made a very hard skidding turn; which starved the engine of fuel causing it to stop. [It] forced him to declare an emergency and make a safe off airport landing where he determined he had fuel remaining.

Narrative

While doing aerial survey work off the coast I was in a hard skidding turn moving from one line to the next. The engine began to run extremely rough and exhibited signs of fuel starvation. The propeller stopped rotating shortly after I leveled the wings and pitched for a best glide attitude. Subsequent attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful and an emergency was declared with Approach. Having a suitable road in sight; it was decided that an off field landing would be in the interest of safety. Attempts to restart the engine were stopped at around 750 FT AGL. The flaps were lowered to their full down position and the aircraft was secured before touchdown. Shortly after touchdown I turned the master switch back on and observed that both right and left fuel gages were indicating approximately between 'empty' and a quarter of a tank each meaning that sufficient fuel should have existed to fly to a nearby airport with VFR fuel reserves. I believe the engine began to run rough as a result of the hard skidding turn moving fuel away from the pickups within the tank while a best glide pitch attitude was the ultimate cause of the propeller stoppage.