Fuel Exhaustion Accident During First Long Cross-Country Flight (N6895Z)

Flight Background and Fueling Conditions The accident flight was the pilot's first 700-nautical-mile cross-country flight in a newly purchased airplane. Before departure, the aircraft was refueled while parked on a slope. The person who refueled the airplane estimated that the left wingtip was 12 to 14 inches lower than the right wingtip. He said the pilot was very concerned about getting as much fuel into the airplane as possible because of the upcoming flight. ## In-Flight Events After climbing to an assigned cruising altitude of 21,000 feet and about two hours into the flight, the pilot reported to air traffic control that he needed to divert. During the descent, the pilot said he was experiencing a fuel problem and that one engine was sputtering. Two minutes later, he declared an emergency and reported that both engines were sputtering. At that time, the pilot reported that he had 15 total gallons of fuel remaining. ## Witness Account and Impact A witness reported seeing the airplane flying southbound with its wings rocking side to side. The airplane then rolled to the right before crashing into a citrus grove. ## Investigation Findings Examination of the airframe found no pre-impact failure of any flight control surface or control system component. The power plant investigation did not disclose any pre-impact mechanical failure of any rotating or reciprocating engine component. Interviews with pilots who had flown with the accident pilot indicated that this was his first flight above 13,000 feet in the accident airplane and probably his longest distance attempted flight since purchasing it. ## Fuel Capacity and Attitude Sensitivity The Pilot's Operating Handbook and FAA Approved Airplane Flight Manual (VB-1190) stated that the full amount of usable fuel is based on the airplane sitting on a level ramp, laterally level, and longitudinally approximately 1.5 degrees nose up, with each tank fueled to 0.6 inches below the filler neck. The manual added that the wing tanks are extremely sensitive to attitude and, if not level, cannot be fueled to the full usable capacity. This information was also included in FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet No. A17WE under the section Data Pertinent to All Models, Note 1.