PRECAUTIONARY EMER OFF ARPT LNDG WHEN SMA SUFFERS A FUEL STARVATION CONDITION.

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A VFR X-COUNTRY WAS PLANNED AND FLOWN BY MYSELF AND A STUDENT PLT. THE TRIP WAS PLANNED; (DIRECT FLT; 290 NM AT 3000 FT MSL). AFTER A COMPLETE WX BRIEF; THE TIME AND FUEL CALCULATIONS WERE MADE AND FUEL TANKS WERE TOPPED OFF. DEP WAS AT AM10 LCL AND WE ENCOUNTERED NO DELAYS. THE FORECAST WINDS WERE FAIRLY ACCURATE AND ALL TIME/DISTANCE/FUEL CALCULATIONS APPEARED AS PREDICTED. TIME ENRTE: 3 HR 0 MINS; LEAN MIXTURE TO 70 PERCENT PWR FUEL BURN: 21 GALLONS WITH 3 1/12 GALLONS RESERVE (35 MINS) AT APPROX AM10; WHEN APPROX 5 NM FROM DEST ARPT WITH ARPT IN SIGHT; THE ENG BEGAN TO VARY IN RPM. THE PROPER CHKLIST WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND ALTHOUGH THE ENG WAS DEVELOPING PWR; I ELECTED TO DISCONTINUE TO THE DEST ARPT DUE TO THE PROX OF THE TOWN AND A LARGE LAKE. A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG WAS MADE ON A SUITABLE PAVED RURAL ROAD THAT HAD NO OBSTACLES OR TFC. THE LNDG WAS MADE WITH THE ENG STILL DEVELOPING PWR AND A SUBSEQUENT TAXI TO A RESIDENCE WAS MADE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE FUEL GAUGES INDICATED APPROX 4 GALLONS OF FUEL ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NOT EVEN IN QUANTITY. VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED THE L TANK TO STILL HAVE FUEL BUT THE R RANK NEARLY EMPTY. THE REMAINING FUEL WAS DRAINED IN CASE IT MAY HAVE CONTAINED WATER (NONE VISIBLE) 10 GALLONS OF 100 LL WAS THEN ADDED AND AN INSPECTION OF THE ENG WAS MADE INCLUDING A FULL PWR RUNUP. AFTER SEVERAL TESTS AND CAREFUL PLANNING I WAS SATISFIED THE ENG WAS DEVELOPING FULL PWR AND ALONE FLEW THE AIRPLANE ON TO THE DEST WITHOUT INCIDENT.