Accident Overview
According to the pilot's report, the aircraft's fuel gauges consistently indicated 'full,' prompting him to rely on visual checks and timing to manage fuel consumption. He stated that he departed with 38 gallons of fuel, initially selecting the left tank. Approximately 18 nautical miles from his final destination, he switched the fuel selector to the right tank. While entering the traffic pattern, he heard a "funny noise" and advanced the throttle, but the engine did not respond. He retracted the flaps and maneuvered toward the runway. The aircraft subsequently crashed in a field about one-quarter mile from the runway's end. The pilot later told a responding police officer that he "blew it and ran out of gas."
Post-Accident Examination
An FAA inspector examined the wreckage and found the fuel selector in the 'off' position. When the fuel line at the carburetor inlet was removed, fuel was present. The aircraft's fuel system was drained, revealing the following quantities: the right tip tank was empty (though damaged in the accident), the right auxiliary tank contained about 9 gallons, the right main tank held about 14 gallons, the left tip tank held about 2 gallons, the left auxiliary tank held 6.5 gallons, and the left main tank contained about three-quarters of a gallon. The engine was inspected and no mechanical problems were identified.
Fuel System Characteristics
The aircraft's Pilot's Operating Handbook notes that the carburetor returns approximately 3 gallons per hour of excess fuel. Fuel return lines are routed through the selector valve to the left main cell. Auxiliary cells and the right main cell return fuel to the left main cell only.