What happened
On May 31, 2023, at approximately 20:30 EDT, a Progressive Aerodyne Inc Searey LSA, registration N316SR, was involved in an accident near Detroit, Michigan. The aircraft was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight for instruction and currency purposes.
The flight originated at approximately 18:00. During the return portion of the flight, about 7 miles from Coleman A Young Municipal Airport (DET), the crew contacted Detroit air traffic control and was advised to expect a visual approach for runway 15. Shortly after this communication, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, which included activating the auxiliary fuel pump, but these efforts were unsuccessful. During the restart attempts, the flight instructor assumed control of the aircraft.
The pilot later notified the tower that the engine had lost power and that the aircraft had landed in a residential neighborhood between two garages. During the forced landing, the aircraft struck trees, causing substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot and the flight instructor were not injured.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed that only a trace amount of fuel was visible in the semi-transparent plastic fuel tank, and the tank showed no signs of a breach. When the aircraft was later leveled on a recovery trailer, the fuel gauge read empty. A subsequent engine run performed with added fuel showed no mechanical anomalies while operating from idle to full throttle.
While the pilot reported a flight duration of approximately 2.5 hours, ADS-B data indicated the aircraft was aloft for 3 hours, having departed DET at 17:30 and reaching its final position at 20:30.
Findings
- The flight crew failed to ensure an adequate fuel supply was available for the duration of the flight.
- The engine power loss was caused by fuel exhaustion.