Event Description
While on a cross-country flight, the engine lost power before the aircraft reached the destination airport. The pilot switched fuel tanks, turned on the boost pump, and restarted the engine. However, approximately one minute later, power was lost again. With insufficient altitude to glide to the airport, the pilot elected to land in a swamp to avoid crashing in a wooded area. During the landing, the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Investigation Findings
The investigation revealed that the pilot had calculated fuel consumption based on 65% power. According to those calculations, the aircraft should have been able to fly for 5 1/2 hours. However, based on tachometer time, the engine lost power after 4.68 hours of flight.
The owner stated that this particular aircraft usually burned approximately 10 gallons per hour with 48 gallons of usable fuel. At that rate, the fuel would have yielded 4.8 hours of flight time, not accounting for start, taxi, run-up, takeoff, and climb. Additionally, the aircraft had reportedly experienced carburetor problems prior to the accident, with the owner noting that the issue involved the engine running lean at low RPM. The pilot did not mention any fuel gauge problem in his statement.