Accident Details
On November 8, 2016, at approximately 1415 eastern standard time, a Cessna 177B, registration N30703, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Hopkinton, Rhode Island. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at Windham Airport (IJD) in Willimantic, Connecticut, and was destined for Richmond Airport (08R) in West Kingston, Rhode Island. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Aircraft Information
The four-seat, high-wing, tricycle-gear airplane was manufactured in 1969. It was powered by a Lycoming O-360 180-horsepower engine and a McCauley controllable-pitch propeller. The most recent annual inspection was completed on November 6, 2015.
Pilot Actions and Flight Profile
The pilot performed a normal preflight inspection and departed to the southwest for the 28-nautical-mile flight. During cruise, about 7 nautical miles from the destination, the engine suddenly lost all power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. From an altitude of 1,800 feet mean sea level, he selected a field for a forced landing. During the landing roll, the airplane struck two small trees before coming to rest, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to obtain fuel at 08R. He reported that during preflight he had "stuck" the fuel tanks with a wooden stick and estimated about 3 inches of fuel from the bottom of each tank, equating to about 12 total gallons (6 gallons per tank). He noted that the engine typically consumed about 10 gallons per hour, and he planned for the flight to take 20 to 30 minutes. The airplane had completed two previous flights since its last refueling.
Weather Conditions
Weather reported at Westerly State Airport (WST), located about 11 miles south of the accident site, included wind from 210° at 5 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 15° C, dew point 3° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.05 inches of mercury.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the aircraft before recovery. The left wing fuel tank was intact but contained no observable fuel, and the compromised right fuel tank also showed no fuel. No blighting of grass or other evidence of a fuel spill was found. First responders reported no fuel leaking from the airplane, and recovery personnel found no fuel present in the fuel strainer bowl when the fuel line was removed. During a subsequent examination, 12 ounces of fuel were drained from the carburetor, electric fuel pump, and fuel bowl. The fuel pump contained a few drops of residual fuel. The collected fuel was free of debris and water.