Incident Overview
A pilot flying from Longmont, Colorado, to Ankeny, Iowa, and back experienced a power failure during the return leg, necessitating a forced landing on a highway. The aircraft sustained damage when the landing gear did not fully extend.
Flight Details
According to the pilot, the outbound flight from Longmont to Ankeny covered approximately 533 nautical miles. For that leg, the pilot added 49.2 gallons of fuel. During the return trip, the pilot made a stop at Hastings, Nebraska, for food and rest but did not refuel. Departing Hastings for Longmont, the flight continued for about 2.5 hours before the power loss occurred.
Forced Landing and Gear Issue
The pilot executed a forced landing onto a highway. During the landing, the pilot extended the landing gear at the last second, but it failed to lock into place fully. As a result, the front door post bulkhead was bent and the bottom of the aircraft was badly damaged.
Fuel Management
The pilot stated that the aircraft’s total fuel capacity was 92 gallons, with 88 gallons usable. However, they typically fueled the aircraft to the bottom of the fuel necks, which provided approximately 65 gallons of usable fuel. A representative from the aircraft manufacturer reported that the engine burned about 14 to 15 gallons per hour in cruise flight, with an additional 8 gallons consumed during the two takeoffs and climbs to cruise altitude.
Weather Considerations
The pilot noted that strong westerly winds, estimated at about 30 knots, were present for both the flight to Ankeny and the return flight to Longmont.