Accident Overview
A single-engine aircraft experienced an engine failure due to fuel starvation while flying ten miles north of the intended destination. The pilot executed a forced landing, during which the propeller and left wing were substantially damaged. The incident did not result in any reported injuries.
Pilot Report
According to the pilot, when the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion, the right fuel gauge displayed a reading between one-quarter and one-third full. This reading was inconsistent with the actual fuel state, as the aircraft had run out of fuel.
Post-Accident Fuel Gauge Testing
Following the accident, the pilot conducted tests on the fuel gauges. With the aircraft positioned level on the ground, the right gauge indicated approximately one-quarter more fuel than the left gauge. This discrepancy suggests a calibration error or malfunction in the fuel quantity indicating system.
Damage Assessment
The forced landing resulted in substantial damage to the propeller and the left wing. The extent of damage to other components was not specified.