Aircraft Emergency Landing After Fuel Exhaustion (N47316)

Preflight and Flight Progression During preflight inspection, the pilot stated that the fuel tanks appeared to be full, noting they could have been no more than 2 inches down. After approximately 2 3/4 hours of flight, as the airplane neared the destination airport, the pilot reported that engine power began to fluctuate. Upon checking the fuel quantity gauges, the pilot observed that the right fuel tank was empty and the left tank was three-quarters full. ## Emergency Response and Impact The pilot attempted to regain power by pumping the primer and throttle. He reported entering a right bank of about 60 degrees to see if fuel would move between the tanks. The engine caught and cut out several times. When the airplane leveled off, the engine quit completely and the propeller stopped turning. The pilot then made an emergency landing, during which the airplane touched down in a frozen, swampy area and nosed over. ## Postaccident Findings Postaccident investigation of the aircraft revealed no fuel in the fuel tanks, fuel strainer, or carburetor. No preimpact mechanical malfunction was found. Examination of refueling records and airplane logs revealed that the airplane had flown about 4 3/4 hours since the most recent refueling.