On November 8, 1991, an Aeronca 7AC (registration N84399) operated by James, Stanley D. was involved in an aviation accident near Wilson, NC. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Fuel exhaustion caused by an unreported fuel leak at the engine primer and the pilot's failure to verify fuel quantity before flight. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot was forced to make an off-airport emergency landing after the engine stopped. An FAA inspector found negligible fuel in the tanks and lines, indicating a leak from the engine primer.
What happened
The pilot reported that the aircraft engine ceased operation during flight, necessitating an emergency landing away from any airport. Prior to the incident, the pilot had refueled the aircraft with five gallons of fuel the day before the flight but did not verify the actual fuel quantity on board before taking off.
The investigation
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the aircraft following the event. The inspection revealed that there was no measurable fuel remaining in the aircraft's fuel tanks. Additionally, only fifty cubic centimeters of fuel were found within the aircraft's fuel lines.
Findings
The pilot acknowledged being aware of a fuel leak originating from the engine primer. This leak, combined with the failure to verify fuel levels prior to flight, resulted in the engine stopping due to lack of fuel.
Probable cause
Fuel exhaustion caused by an unreported fuel leak at the engine primer and the pilot's failure to verify fuel quantity before flight.