What happened
On March 13, 2014, a Cessna 150, registration I-RIFI, was conducting a recreational flight from Fiano Romano to Ancona. The flight path was planned to pass over Rieti, Spoleto, San Severino, and Jesi, with an estimated flight duration of 1 hour and 10 minutes.
While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the aircraft's engine suddenly shut down. The pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing near Cingoli. There were no injuries to the pilot and no damage to the aircraft or surrounding property.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the pilot's statements and the aircraft's fuel systems. At takeoff, the pilot noted that fuel levels indicated by the cockpit gauges were slightly below half capacity, and a visual inspection of the tanks was performed. The pilot had estimated a flight endurance of two hours for the planned route.
Following the emergency landing, a visual inspection of the tanks revealed they appeared empty. The fuel gauges indicated less than one-quarter of fuel in the right tank and nearly zero in the left tank. To verify the accuracy of the cockpit instruments, a certified company performed a check on April 17, 2014, in accordance with Cessna SB 99-18r11. This inspection confirmed that the fuel indicators were functioning within acceptable limits.
Findings
- The engine shutdown was caused by fuel exhaustion.
- The pilot's failure to accurately verify the actual amount of fuel in the tanks prior to departure contributed to the event.
- The presence of a headwind, which was not adequately accounted for during flight planning, likely increased fuel consumption beyond the initial estimates.