Incident Overview
A pilot reported that before departure, he calculated that 60 gallons of fuel were onboard, distributed between the main and auxiliary tanks. During the flight, he transferred all fuel from the tip tanks into the main tanks and alternated fuel usage between the main tanks. Approaching Palo Alto, he repositioned the fuel selector to the fullest tank. On final approach, the engine lost all power, and the pilot executed a forced landing in a marsh area of the San Francisco Bay.
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA coordinator reported that examination of the airplane and the surrounding marshland revealed no evidence of oil or fuel leakage. The airplane was recovered with intact fuel tanks. Fuel quantity measurements recorded: left wing tip tank – 0.25 gallons, left main tank – 11.0 gallons, right wing tip tank – 0.75 gallons, right main tank – 0.50 gallons. The engine was examined and showed no evidence of preimpact damage; it was successfully test run after the accident.
Fuel Management Details
The pilot's fuel management included transferring all fuel from tip tanks to main tanks and alternating between main tanks. The final selector position was toward the fullest tank. The observed fuel distribution after the accident indicated a significant imbalance, with the right main tank containing only 0.50 gallons while the left main held 11.0 gallons.