N851FHVans Aircraft RV-6 · 2018

The pilot reported that he and a group of other pilots had recently purchased the airplane. He noted that the airplane’s fuel selector was difficult to turn. A new selector valve was planned for installation but had not yet been installed. During the accident flight, when he was nearing his destination, the pilot switched to the fullest fuel tank. When the airplane was on final approach the engine lost all power, and the pilot executed a forced landing short of the intended runway. The airplane nosed over during the forced landing and sustained substantial damage to the right wing and vertical stabilizer.

After the accident, when the pilot was securing the airplane, he recognized that the selector valve was not fully open, and this had led to the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. The pilot noted in his accident report narrative that the valve was difficult to rotate and also difficult to determine if it was in a detent position, and that he should have grounded the airplane until the replacement selector valve was installed.

No service documentation for the fuel selector valve was found during the investigation. Ensuring operation of the valve should be part of the condition inspection for the airplane.