Incident
A pilot experienced a loss of engine power while diverting to an alternate airport after noticing low fuel indications. The subsequent forced landing on hilly terrain caused the nose landing gear to shear off and the airplane to nose over.
Flight Details
Before departure, the airplane was serviced to its full fuel capacity of 123 gallons. The pilot checked weather conditions and decided to conduct a visual flight rules (VFR) flight at an altitude of 16,500 feet. No flight plan was filed. The true airspeed was 185 knots, and the average GPS-derived ground speed was 180 knots. The total distance of the flight was 1,026 nautical miles, estimated to require 5.7 hours of flying time. Allowing 20 minutes for climb to altitude, the pilot calculated he would have more than one hour of fuel reserve upon arrival.
As the flight neared its destination, the fuel gauges appeared 'suspiciously low.' The onboard Hoskins fuel calculator indicated 27 gallons of fuel remained. The pilot decided to divert to Gillette. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power.
Forced Landing
The pilot performed a forced landing on hilly terrain. The airplane touched down hard on a relatively flat area. The impact caused the nose landing gear to shear off, and the airplane nosed over. Based on the fuel burn calculation, consuming 120 gallons over 5.7 hours would equate to a rate slightly above 21 gallons per hour.