OFF ARPT FORCED LNDG DUE TO ENG STOPPAGE OF AN SMA SINGLE ENG LAND ACFT.
Synopsis
OFF ARPT FORCED LNDG DUE TO ENG STOPPAGE OF AN SMA SINGLE ENG LAND ACFT.
Narrative
SKYDIVERS HAD JUST BEEN DROPPED AND I WAS CIRCLING TO LAND. I SHOULD HAVE HAD 5 GALLONS FUEL REMAINING. ON FINAL; I SLIPPED THE ACFT (MODERATELY) AND THE ENG QUIT. I STRAIGHTENED THE PLANE OUT AND APPLIED FULL MIXTURE AND PROP; THEN PUMPED THE THROTTLE; BUT THE ENG WOULD NOT START. I REALIZED I WOULDN'T MAKE THE FIELD; SO LANDED NEXT TO A BARN AND ENTERED INTO A BARLEY FIELD. THE PROP WAS FEATHERED AND NO DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED. WE PULLED THE PLANE OUT OF THE FIELD AND CLEANED THE AIR FILTER AND CHKED FOR OTHER DAMAGE. FINDING NO DAMAGE AND DETERMINING THAT THE PLANE'S ENG STOPPED BECAUSE OF THE SLIPPING; I PUT ANOTHER 5 GALLONS INTO THE L TANK. I HAD 5 GALLONS REMAINING IN THE RIGHT TANK. THE PLANE STARTED RIGHT UP. WE THEN STOPPED TFC ON HWY 20 NEXT TO PICABO AND I TOOK OFF FROM THE HWY APPROX 1 1/2 MI E OF PICABO. I THEN CIRCLED AND LANDED AT PICABO ARPT. I FELT ALL ACTIONS TAKEN BY ME WERE CORRECT. WHEN THE ENG QUIT AND I COULD NOT START IT; I IMMEDIATELY CHOSE A LNDG FIELD AND PREPARED FOR A SAFE LNDG. SINCE I WAS AT 500 FT; THINGS HAPPENED FAST. THE ONE THING I SHOULD HAVE DONE AND DIDN'T; WAS HIT THE STARTER BUTTON. I ASSUMED I WAS TOTALLY OUT OF GAS SINCE THE WINDMILLING PROP WOULD NOT START IT. BUT; I REACHED A POINT WHERE ALL MY ATTN WAS FOCUSED ON MISSING WIRES; FARM MACHINERY; AND KEEPING MY AIRSPD AS CLOSE TO THE BEST GLIDE AS I COULD. MY FEELING NOW IS TO RETAIN AT LEAST 10 GALLONS AFTER DROPPING JUMPERS; DO NOT SLIP WHILE LOW ON FUEL; AND HIT THE STARTER BUTTON SHOULD THE ENG EVER QUIT.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.