SMA PVT PLT EXPERIENCES FUEL EXHAUSTION ON PACH TO FCM ARPT; PERFORMS AN OFF ARPT EMER FORCED LNDG.

Narrative

FLT FROM GRM; MN; TO FCM IN EDEN PRAIRIE; MN. PLT RELIED ON INCORRECT FUEL GAUGES; WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DURING FLT. A NON OFF-ARPT EMER LNDG ON A FREEWAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION RESULTED IN A SAFE LNDG. THE ACFT WAS FUELED AND AFTER APPROVAL BY FAA REPRESENTATIVE; THE PLANE TOOK OFF FROM THE CONSTRUCTION SITE AND WAS FLOWN TO FCM ARPT. THE ACFT WAS LEFT AT GRM ARPT FOR A PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION AND TRIAL FLT. WHEN THE ACFT WAS LEFT THERE IT HAD BEEN LEFT WITH FULL TANKS. WHEN THE ACFT WAS PICKED UP THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD FLOWN THE PLANE COULD NOT BE REACHED TO SEE HOW LONG HE HAD FLOWN THE PLANE. NO ONE WAS AT THE ARPT TO SELL ANY GAS; SO THE PLANE COULD NOT BE TOPPED OFF. AT THE TIME OF DEP FROM GRM; THE FUEL GAUGES READ 3/4 TANKS WHICH; IF THE GAUGES WERE CORRECT; WOULD AMOUNT TO 16.5 GALLONS OF FUEL OF WHICH 12.5 GALLONS WOULD BE NEEDED FOR A FLT OF 2.5 HRS TO FCM ARPT. HOWEVER; 2 MI N OF FCM ARPT; THE GAUGES SHOWED 1/4 TANK AND 1/8 TANK OF FUEL; AT WHICH TIME THE ACFT ENG QUIT FROM LACK OF FUEL. AFTER A SAFE LNDG ON A HWY UNDER CONSTRUCTION; THE TANKS WERE DRAINED AND THE RESULTS WERE THAT 1 GALLON OF GAS WAS IN THE L TANK AND THE R TANK WAS EMPTY.