Incident Overview
Approximately four hours after departing from Pompano Beach, the pilot experienced a complete loss of engine power. Throughout the flight, the pilot had varied the aircraft's altitude. No other details regarding the flight path or conditions were provided.
Fuel and Performance Information
The aircraft's flight manual indicates that under specific conditions—an altitude of 2,500 feet, a fuel quantity of 48 gallons, and the mixture set to lean—the aircraft could fly for about 3.8 hours with no fuel reserve. The pilot did not report having leaned the fuel mixture at any point during the flight.
Aircraft System Status
There were no reported aircraft malfunctions or failures. The power loss occurred without any prior indication of mechanical issues. The flight manual's endurance figures are based on maintaining a steady altitude of 2,500 feet and using a leaned mixture, but the pilot had varied altitude during the flight.
Flight Duration Comparison
The flight lasted approximately four hours before the power loss, while the manual's stated endurance under optimal conditions was 3.8 hours. The pilot did not report using a lean mixture, which is necessary to achieve that endurance.