1992-07 · NASA ASRS report 215858
EMER FORCED LNDG AFTER SMA SUFFERS FROM FUEL STARVATION DURING TKOF PROC. RWY EXCURSION AND ACFT NOT DAMAGED.
I; AS A FLT INSTRUCTOR (ASE; AME; IA); WAS INVOLVED IN AN ON-ARPT FORCED-LNDG SITUATION INTO THE BRUSH; WHICH RESULTED IN NO INJURIES AND NO DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE. THE OWNER OF THE SMA WAS A STUDENT PLT (POST-SOLO). TOGETHER WE CONDUCTED A THOROUGH PREFLT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FUEL; WE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS 100LL IN THE L TANK AND 80 OCTANE IN THE R TANK. THERE WAS NO WATER OR SEDIMENT IN EITHER TANK; BUT THE SMELL OF THE 80 OCTANE MADE US SUSPECT. THE FUEL SMELLED LIKE AUTO GAS. WE DECIDED TO CONDUCT THE FLT ANYWAY; ONLY USING THE L TANK. AS WE WERE TAXIING; I NOTICED THAT THE R TANK READ ALMOST EMPTY; BUT DID NOT WORRY BECAUSE THE SELECTOR WAS ON THE L TANK. WE DID A COMPLETE BEFORE TKOF CHK; AND PROCEEDED TO TKOF. ABOUT 100-200 FT AGL; THE ENG SUDDENLY QUIT. I QUICKLY CHKED TO MAKE SURE HE HAD FULL THROTTLE; AND THAT THE MIXTURE WAS FULL RICH. IN THIS SITUATION I DETERMINED IT IMPERATIVE THAT WE LAND IMMEDIATELY RATHER THAN ATTEMPT A RESTART. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK CTL OF THE AIRPLANE; AND WE LANDED IN THE BRUSH TO THE NW SIDE OF RWY 23. IT WAS DISCOVERED LATER THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON THE R TANK RATHER THAN THE L. IT WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE R TANK WAS CLOSE TO EMPTY. THE SMA IS PLACARDED AGAINST TAKING OFF ON THE R TANK WHEN IT IS LESS THAN 1/3 FULL. IN MY OPINION; THE FOLLOWING FACTORS CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT: FAILURE OF THE INSTRUCTOR TO CHK HIS STUDENT'S PRE-TKOF CHK; INSTRUCTOR'S UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE ACFT; INSTRUCTOR'S RELIANCE OF THE STUDENT'S FAMILIARITY OF HIS OWN AIRPLANE; FAILURE OF THE STUDENT TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH PRE-TKOF INSPECTION; AND UNAVAILABILITY OF A PROPER CHKLIST FOR THE AIRPLANE. AS THE INSTRUCTOR; I ALLOWED MYSELF TO ATTEMPT TO INSTRUCT A STUDENT IN AN AIRPLANE IN WHICH I HAD ONLY FLOWN IN ONCE BEFORE (1.3 HRS). I RELIED ON THE STUDENT; AS THE OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE; TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH PRE-TKOF CHK WITHOUT MY ASSISTANCE; AS I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT ENTAILED MYSELF. THE AGE OF THE AIRPLANE PRECLUDED IT FROM HAVING A MANUAL OR A THOROUGH CHKLIST; WHICH I WAS USED TO HAVING. AS THE FLT INSTRUCTOR; I SHOULD HAVE MADE MYSELF MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRPLANE I WAS INSTRUCTING IN AND SUPERVISED THE STUDENT MORE CLOSELY; REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT HE WAS THE OWNER OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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