Accident Overview
On May 23, 2016, at 1600 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152 (registration N952SA) operated by Sunrise Aviation was substantially damaged during a forced landing after a total loss of engine power while maneuvering near Melrose, Florida. The private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed Ormond Beach Municipal Airport (OMN) around 1500, destined for Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV).
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported beginning a descent from 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl) to 1,100 feet msl about 13 nautical miles east of GNV. He followed the descent checklist, including enrichening the mixture, applying carburetor heat, and reducing power to 1,500 rpm. After leveling off at 1,100 feet msl, the engine shut down without warning. The pilot prepared for an approach to a nearby field and attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful.
Aircraft Damage and Recovery
The airplane came to rest upright in swampy terrain. The fuselage and nose section sustained substantial damage, and the empennage was fractured and partially separated aft of the cabin area. An FAA inspector responded but could not examine the wreckage due to the terrain. The operator, self-insured, recovered the wreckage to a hangar at OMN.
Post-Recovery Examination
During recovery, the operator noted no fuel in one tank, was uncertain about the other, and detected no fuel odor at the site. A National Transportation Safety Board investigator examined the wreckage after recovery. Both fuel tanks were intact and empty; no fuel was found in the carburetor. Engine continuity was confirmed via propeller rotation, and thumb compression was attained on all cylinders.
Fueling History
The operator stated the airplane was last fueled on May 11, 2016, and had not flown until the accident flight. The airplane had only one flight in May 2016 (the accident flight). However, fueling records for May 10 and 11 showed that the airplane was fueled three times on May 10 and two times on May 11. Neither the pilot nor the operator reported the amount of fuel onboard at the start of the accident flight.