Overview
A pre-flight inspection of the aerial application aircraft revealed a fuel quantity of three-quarters of a tank. The aircraft then conducted two aerial application flights, each lasting approximately one hour. After these operations, the aircraft was prepared for a third sortie.
Pre-Flight Fuel Check
During loading for the third flight, the loader inquired about the fuel status. The pilot consulted the fuel gauge and reported slightly less than half a tank. He indicated that the aircraft would require fuel on the next load.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
The aircraft departed and flew for about ten minutes when the engine ceased producing power. The pilot jettisoned the load and executed a forced landing in an adjacent field. The airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wing, fuselage, and empennage.
Post-Accident Examination
Investigators found no fuel in the aircraft's fuel tanks or under the inverted airplane. After fuel was added to the tank, the engine operated normally. The incident aligns with guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration's Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, which states that fuel gauge accuracy is required only at the empty reading and that other indications should be verified.